It was rivalry day in the Okanagan on March 11, when one of Canada鈥檚 largest student-athlete sports tournaments continued in Penticton.
This year鈥檚 edition of the prestigious Canadian Sport School Hockey League Championships (CSSHL) entered its sixth day on Saturday and featured a Male U17 matinee showdown between the Penticton-based Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) and Rink Hockey Academy 麻豆精选.
OHA鈥檚 Charlie Grant scored twice Saturday, including the eventual game-winner, to lift his team to a 4-1 victory against the 麻豆精选-based squad at the Okanagan Hockey Training Centre (OHTC).
Grant was joined by Leonard Biafore and David Hoy in finding the back of the net for OHA.
麻豆精选鈥檚 U17 prep squad used a late third-period marker from Kelsen Podworny to spoil OHA鈥檚 shutout bid.
鈥淩ink 麻豆精选 and OHA Penticton is always a rivalry game, doesn鈥檛 matter what division it is,鈥� said Kevin Goodwin, the chief operating officer of the CSSHL.
Saturday marked both teams鈥� first game of the event.
OHA and 麻豆精选 are two of the 86 total teams in attendance from across B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Idaho.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 where you go in town when the tournament is on, you鈥檙e going to see teams around,鈥� said Goodwin. 鈥淢y favourite part of it is the energy it brings to the city鈥eeing the busses go everywhere, the atmosphere, the energy, it鈥檚 all great.鈥�
The tournament鈥檚 venues include the OHTC, South Okanagan Events Centre and Memorial Arena.
Divisions include U15, U15 Prep, U16 Prep, U17 Prep, U18 Prep, and U18 Female Prep, with teams from 麻豆精选, Delta and Burnaby among the defending champions in select conferences.
Since becoming chief operating officer of the CSSHL, Goodwin says the tournament has grown right before his eyes.
鈥淚n 2016, we were at 40 total teams,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow, we鈥檙e up to 86 and next year, we鈥檒l have 95鈥e鈥檒l be over 100 for sure soon.鈥�
Goodwin also points to the tournament鈥檚 impact on the local economy, dating back to when first came to Penticton seven years ago.
The City of Penticton and CSSHL Championships inked a five-year, $500,000 deal earlier this week to keep the tournament local.
The city will grant the event $100,000, per year, with an additional five-year extension clause after the 2029 edition of the tournament. Local officials say the event will bring an estimated $40 million to the city over the length of the contract.
鈥淓veryone in Penticton loves this event,鈥� Goodwin said. 鈥淥ur coaches and governors love this event and that鈥檚 why we鈥檙e for another 10 years, you can鈥檛 duplicate this anywhere else.鈥�
Saturday鈥檚 action on the ice also included a U15 matchup between OHA and Rink 麻豆精选 at historic Memorial Arena, the old home of the Penticton Vees.
The tournament began on March 6 and wraps up March 19 and tickets can be purchased at valleyfirsttix.com.
CSSHL alumni include Minnesota Wild defenceman Matt Dumba, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger and Stanley Cup-winning defenceman Bowen Byram from the Colorado Avalanche.
READ MORE: Hundreds of hockey players and coaches here in Penticton
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