The U14B Cowichan Thunder have added another medal to their collection.
The Thunder took gold at the Tim White Tournament in Nanaimo last weekend, one week after claiming bronze at the Karsten Huth Memorial Tournament in Kamloops.
The final game against Ridge Meadows was a thriller that saw Cowichan come back from a 4-1 deficit with just six minutes left in regulation. In the span of two and a half minutes, Jesse Bell scored twice and Sully Steeves scored once to make it a 4-4 game. With just 1:34 left to play, Cowichan went on the power play, and Joel Perret converted with only 14 seconds left to play. Goalie Tyson Atkinson stopped a breakaway as the final seconds ticked away to preserve the victory.
“I am so unbelievably proud of every single one of our kids,” coach Kolton King commented. “What a fantastic and hard-fought weekend of lacrosse, with a well-deserved outcome.”
Coach Tyson Black called it, “One of the best and hardest-fought games we have seen them play all year. Playing right to the last minute and never giving up and leaving everything on the floor. Proud to be one of the coaches for these kids.”
“They showed the heart of a team that’s played together for years,” coach Scott McCaffery added. “I’m extremely proud of all them and love coaching them.”
The Thunder lost their opening game against the Comox Valley Wild 5-4, getting three goals from Joel Perret and one from Sully Steeves, but couldn’t be stopped after that.
Cowichan bounced back to beat Langley 5-1 with two goals each by Perret and Nelson Sylvester, and one from Steeves. They got past Saanich 5-4 in their third game of the weekend on goals by Perret, Steeves, Maddisyn Solecki, Ronan Boteler and Jett Blosky. Game 4 was a 6-3 win over Juan de Fuca on goals by Perret, Blosky, Owen Blace and Ryley Gallaugher.