Campbell River. Kitimat. Kamloops. Cranbrook. Nanaimo. Coquitlam.
The six provincial cities may not conjure up images of say, Miami Beach, Mexico, Disneyland, or Disney World, as spring break destinations.
But they'll suffice when pursuing a B.C. hockey title.
Six teams with players and parents from Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, and Revelstoke helped their respective tier teams capture Okanagan minor hockey playoff titles. As a result, they will spend part of their spring break in pursuit of a provincial hockey championship.
U18 TIER 1 @ Coquitlam, March 16-19:
The North Zone Kings swept their rivals from Central Okanagan 2-0 to win the Okanagan championship and a trip to the provincials.
Joining the Kings in the Vancouver suburb will be the East Kootenay Avalanche, West Kootenay Crusaders, Victoria Admirals, Cloverdale Colts, Northeast Trackers, Ridge Meadows Rustlers, and the host Coquitlam Comets.
U15 TIER 1 @ Kamloops, March 16-19:
The North Zone Kings, with players from the North Okanagan and Shuswap, captured the Okanagan title to earn the trip to Kamloops.
They will face the West Kootenay Crusaders, Nanaimo Clippers, East Kootenay Avalanche, Northeast Trackers and the host Thompson Blazers in the tournament.
U15 TIER 2 @ Nanaimo, March 17-20:
The Vernon Vipers are off to Vancouver Island after capturing the Okanagan playoff banner.
Joining the Vipers in the Hub City are the host Nanaimo Clippers, Cranbrook Bucks, Prince George Cougars, Oceanside Generals of Parksville, and the Fort St. John-based Northeast Trackers.
U15 TIER 3 @ Cranbrook, March 16-20:
The North Okanagan Knights 鈥� made up of players from Armstrong, Enderby, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, and Revelstoke 鈥� will represent the Okanagan at the provincial finals.
The Eagles will be joined in the East Kootenays by the host Cranbrook Bucks, Terrace Kermodes, Powell River Kings, Trail Smoke Eaters, Quesnel Thunder, Dawson Creek Canucks and the Whitehorse Mustangs.
U15 TIER 4 @ Kitimat, March 16-20:
The Okanagan is represented by the Sicamous Eagles (with players from Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Armstrong, Enderby, and Revelstoke) who will make the 14-hour road trip to B.C.'s northwest to compete for a B.C. banner.
The Eagles will be joined in Kitimat by the Creston Valley Bruins, Vanderhoof Bears, Dawson Creek Canucks, Oceanside Generals, and the host Kitimat Winterhawks.
U13 TIER 1 @ Campbell River, March 16-19:
The Okanagan champion Vernon Watkin Motors Mustangs will face a familiar foe in their opening game of the provincials when they take on the host North Island Bears.
The Bears are the same team that competed in Vernon in February at the 52nd annual Vernon Winter Carnival Coca Cola Classic tournament, losing the Amy Myles A Final, 3-2 in double overtime, to the Penticton Knights.
The Knights defeated Vernon 3-2 in the semifinal of the Classic, the only of their five games the host Mustangs did not score double digits in.
Penticton failed to reach the Okanagan Valley championship. Vernon beat Kelowna to earn the trip to the Island.
Two weeks before the Classic, Vernon played the Campbell River squad twice: losing in the round-robin, but defeating them in the championship game of a tournament in Kelowna.
Vernon will also take on the Victoria Admirals, Victoria Racquet Club Kings, Burnaby Winter Club, and Semiahmoo Ravens at the provincial finals.
