The 100 Mile & District Minor Hockey Association Atom Division ended its season by hosting a successful Atom House tournament March 18-20 at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre.
Six teams competed, with Sicamous Predators going undefeated to capture the first-place trophy. Williams Lake Warriors placed second and 100 Mile House Free Press finished in third place. 100 Mile House Save-On-Foods wound up in fifth position.
Free Press won two and lost two of its tournament games, leaving their coach John Taylor proud of their performance.
"They played very hard all weekend. All of their games were close and could have gone either way. Goalies Mitchell Taylor and Logan McFee did an excellent job."
Save-On-Foods won one and lost three games, but their coach Scott Simpkins says that everyone had fun.
"We were missing some good players to holidays, but that's the way it goes."
The tournament was played by what Taylor referred to as Gretzky rules, where each player was limited to just three goals per game.
"It makes it more fun for everyone because it gets the kids passing and one kid won't dominate the game."
Volunteers Loretta Taylor and Diana Buurmeester co-ordinated the tournament, incorporating several raffle draws and a 50/50 puck toss, where people purchased numbered pucks and tossed them from the stands onto the ice during a break. The one that landed closest to a marker won the prize pot.
"It was a different way to do a 50/50 and people really enjoyed it," says Taylor.
The tournament also provided a players' lounge where participants and their families could enjoy free potluck snacks supplied by parents of the home teams.
The hockey club will host its Novice House tournament this coming weekend, March 25-27, at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre.