The West Kootenay Bantam Wildcats have begun their quest for a provincial title with a tie against the host Greater Vernon.
The girls’ team is in Vernon this week to compete for the BC Hockey Female Bantam Provincial title. The team is made up of 13 and 14 year old girls from around the West Kootenay and includes four Nelson players — Merissa Dawson, Emma Wheeldon, Haley Elias and Kali Horner.
In the Sunday night opener against Vernon, it was the hosts that scored first when Olivia Comeau scored just over five minutes into the game. The Wildcats drew even before the end of the first period when Kendra Waterstreet evened the game at 1-1.
In the second period, Dawson gave the Wildcats the 2-1 lead when she scored with helpers from Jessica Bonacci and Wheeldon at 16:32. Vernon countered at 15:03 when Comeau scored her second of the game. Before the second period ended, Vernon took a 3-2 lead.
With just over a minute left in the game, the Wildcats pulled their goalie and tied the game at three.
The Wildcats take on South Island this afternoon and close the round robin portion of the tournament on Tuesday against Prince George. Only the top-four teams in the nine-team provincials move onto the medal round which begins on Wednesday.
Though Nelson Minor Hockey has no teams in this week’s provincials scattered throughout the province, Nelson’s Sawyer Hunt and Tyler Podgorenko are part of the Trail Tier II Midget team which is in contention in Kelowna. Trail lost 7-2 to host West Kelowna on Sunday.