There were plenty of goals to be mined in the American net Thursday evening.
The Vernon Watkin Motors Mustangs exploded for eight goals in the opening 20 minutes, and cruised to a 13-1 win over the California Goldrush at the 52nd annual Vernon Winter Carnival Coca Cola Classic Pee Wee Hockey Tournament Thursday, Feb. 13 at Kal Tire Place North.
The win improved Vernon's record in the Coca Cola Division to 2-0. The Mustangs opened the tournament Thursday morning with a 10-2 romp over the Wheatfield Braves of Strathmore, Alta.
Vernon has locked up a berth in the championship side semifinals Saturday afternoon, Feb. 15.
Rowan McGrath led the Vernon onslaught against California, scoring four times and adding four assists. TJ Podollan added seven points, scoring twice and setting up five others, and Colby Boltz added a pair of markers.
Single goals were scored by Jake Hughes, Kingston Prenioslo, Jett Menzies, Cooper Krause, and Rozlyn Jacques.
Lucca Greco had the only goal for the Goldrush.
Lucas Gosselin picked up the win in net for Vernon, who wraps up the Coca-Cola Division preliminary round with a first-place showdown against the Coquitlam Chiefs. The game will go at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Both teams are 2-0 after opening day. The Chiefs blanked the Goldrush 6-0, and edged the Braves 8-7.
In the Sun Valley Division, the North Island Strathcona Bisons of Comox Valley are 2-0 and into the championship semifinals after a 17-1 romp over Idaho's Coeur D'Alene Hockey Academy, and a 6-5 win over the defending tournament champion Penticton Jr. Vees.
The Vees opened the tourney by blanking Aberta's Foothill Bisons 6-0.
Preliminary round play wraps up Friday evening. Consolation side semifinals go at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, while the championship side final four games will go Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The winner of Vernon-Coquitlam will play in the 12:30 p.m. contest, the loser plays at 3 p.m.
The event finals go Sunday, Feb. 16, at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
All tournament games are at Kal Tire Place North.
