The Shuswap Outlaws Midget B Lacrosse team was in Port Coquitlam this weekend defending their provincial title at the Provincial Playdowns.
Shuswap started the tournament off strong with a 10-2 win over Ridge Meadows and a 10-4 victory against North Delta. In their final pool game against Oceanside (Parksville), they could not capitalize on a hat trick from Austin Pugh and came up on the wrong side of a 6-4 score.
However, the two wins in pool play was enough to advance the team to the semifinals where they met Prince George.
In the semifinal game, the Outlaws got three goals from Logan Mostat and Kalvin Davyduke was solid in net, but the team came up short in an 8-6 loss. That defeat relegated Shuswap to the bronze-medal game on Sunday against Oceanside.
The Outlaws came out strong against the Sharks, but ran into some hot goaltending from the Oceanside netminder and had to settle for a 6-5 loss.
Zach Fournier was a bright spot for Shuswap as he scored three goals in the defeat.
Head coach Steve Sagh was not disappointed with the fourth-place finish.
“This was a really tough tournament,” he said. “There are some very physical teams out there. Our kids had to play through some bumps and bruises and adversity, but they played hard until the end. That is all you can ask.”
Davyduke and Fournier each picked up two game MVPs, and Pugh claimed the other.
Mason McCune was recognized as the Fair Player award winner for Shuswap.
Sagh was awarded the Fair Coach award from the other coaches. It was the third year he has received this distinction.
At the tournament’s conclusion, Austin Pugh was named the Provincial Tournament MVP for Midget B division. Kalvin Davyduke was named to the all-star team.