The ScotiaBank Bantam Tier 2 Silvertips attended the prestigious Kamloops International Bantam Hockey Tournament during the Easter break. The tournament, in its 44th season, is attended by Bantam Rep teams from the Pacific Northwest, B.C. and Alberta. This year, 20 teams participated in the Tier 2 division and 10 teams in the Tier 1 Division.
The local Bantam Tier 2 team participated for the second year in a row, hoping to show well in this huge tournament. The team did not disappoint, with consistent efforts and team play during the six games needed to reach the finals. On March 27 the team started strong with a 6-2 win over New Westminster, riding a strong performance from the Triston Ferguson-Joey Guerra- Tyler Collens line combining for seven points, three of them goals by right winger Collens.
Nathan Plessis scored two of what would be many in this tournament and Dawson Head had three assists. The same afternoon, the team lost a close one to the Calgary Stampeders, in a 4-3 final score after Calgary came back from a 3-1 deficit. Plessis scored two in that one as well.
On Wednesday evening, all teams were introduced to fans in a large ceremony at Mac Island, with guest speakers and the tournament directors addressing the crowd, followed by both U.S. and Canadian national anthems and a bagpipe providing music in the background.
Thursday afternoon the meeting was set against rivals Penticton. In one of the best games of the tournament, the Silvertips rode to a 3-1 win, getting goals from Triston Ferguson, Shane Minnis and Matthew Gibbons. Friday the Silvertips met a strong Mission team, losing by a score of 6-2. The Penticton win ended up being huge as that decision broke the tie-breaker to attend the semifinals Saturday.
Saturday the local boys met another longtime rival in Williams Lake, but determination, amazing goaltending by Keenan Starkell and goals by Jaden Hay and Plessis allowed a win by the score of 2-1. That catapulted the team into the ‘B’ finals on Easter Sunday, as one of only eight teams out of 28 in the tournament getting that privilege. The matchup for the trophy was a tough and physical affair, with the Silvertips ending up on the wrong side of a 5-2 decision, getting goals from Alex Astasiewicz and Bobby Jeffrey.
The team performed well and had a great time in the tournament.
To cap it all off, Astasiewicz (Top Defenceman) and Keenan Starkell (Top Goalie) received individual awards as outstanding performers in the tournament.
The coaching staff of Tony Guerra, Terrance Head, Joe Collens and trainers Rob Jeffrey and Ron Stanton had the privilege of leading this team all year and said they are thankful for the support of all team parents and the Salmon Arm Minor Hockey Association.
The team members included goalies Keenan Starkell and Jayden Jensen, defence was handled by Alex Astasiewicz, Bobby Jeffrey, Dawson Head, Eric Porter, Matthew Gibbons and Jason Herd. Forwards were Nathan Plessis, Triston Ferguson, Tyler Collens, Joey Guerra, Tyler Turner, Dawson Mayes, Kael Amdam, Jordan Salewski, Jaden Hay, and Shane Minnis.