Langley’s Bantam C3 Reapers went undefeated which won them the Cowichan Valley Remembrance Day Hockey Tournament.
The Bantam tournament Nov. 11-13 included games played in Duncan and Cowichan on Vancouver Island. Eight teams participated from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
“We got better as the tournament progressed,” said Langley head coach Kevin Taylor.
Langley’s first game of the tournament Nov. 11 matched them against South Delta C5. Hayden Davies scored four goals to pace Langley to a 5-3 win. Nicholas Romero also had a goal for Langley and Shane Taylor chipped in with an assist.
Langley played two games on Saturday. The morning game, versus the host team, was a chippy and penalty filled affair with Cowichan Valley assessed 22 minutes in penalties and Langley 16 minutes.
Curtis Goode scored for Langley and Eric Nordal played a solid game on defence. The game ended in a hard fought 3-3 tie.
In the afternoon game Langley played a solid team from Peninsula (North Saanich). With Peninsula ahead 2-1 with less than a minute left in the game, Emmett Fast scored for Langley on a wrist shot from the right face off circle. This goal earned Langley a 2-2 tie and the top seed in ’pool B’. Ethan Jancowski assisted on the tying goal. Langley’s Ciaran Wessel played well on the wing.
The Reapers finished round-robin play with one win and two ties which earned it the top seed in the very competitive ‘pool B’.
Both semi-final games were on the morning of Nov. 13 with Langley facing the number two seed in ‘pool A’, South Delta C2.
Braeden Macdonald scored for Langley and Brennan Early had an assist. Tyson Burgess had a goal and two assists. Langley won 6-2 to earn a berth in the finals that afternoon.
The championship final in Fuller Lake Arena in Chemainus. Langley once again faced Peninsula, which had won the other semi final game. Steven Chambers scored to stake Langley to an early 1-0 lead. Mark Napier had an assist and Dominic Williams played another solid game in goal for Langley. Langley won the game 5-1.
The victory in the finals definitely made the ferry ride back home more enjoyable for the Langley families most of whom arrived back in Langley after midnight on Sunday night.
“We had a strong effort from all the players, especially in the final game when it mattered the most. Everyone chipped in and the players came together as a group over the weekend. I am so proud of this group,” Taylor added.