Enthusiasm was high and concentration intense as teams from six retirement and care facilities vied for the coveted Shuswap Seniors Hockey League Championship.
Competing in the chair hockey tournament were the Hillside Village Silverheads, the Pioneer Lodge Pistols, the Harmony Haven Heroes, the Senior’s Outreach Hotshots, the Shuswap Lodge Shooters and the Bastion Blazers.
Following a round-robin format, the final came down to the Blazers facing the Silverheads.
After the first period, the Silverheads were running away with the game, leading 4 - 0 but, in an exciting comeback, the Blazers tied it up at the end of the second. Fans and players alike were on the edge of their seats. Pompoms were shaking, noise makers bleating, coaches high-fiving their players.
The comeback was not to last, however, as the Silverheads forged ahead once again, winning 11-7.
Silverheads’ coach West Martin-Patterson had this to say following the game: “This wraps up a solid, all-around season where the Silverheads only lost one game all season to the Bastion Blazers but defeated that very same team 11-7 in the final gold medal game… The Silverheads, backed by outstanding goaltending, defence, offence and coaching were simply too strong this season with no obvious weaknesses. There was a lot of talk during these playoffs of a potential hockey dynasty, but our players were much too focused on the task at hand to worry about that!”
Over at the bronze medal game, the Senior’s Outreach Hotshots were victorious over the Shuswap Lodge Shooters.
Blazer Sonya Makayev, who played in the gold medal game, said she loves hockey.
“I’ve got boys that play hockey, so I have to learn,” she smiled.
Aileen Bland of the Shooters, who scored her share of goals during the tournament, said she was really enjoying the day.
Asked the secret of her skill, she didn’t hesitate: “Sheer luck!”