The novice Kamloops Rattlers Selects won the silver medal in the A2 division at the Jack Crosby lacrosse tournament on the weekend in Burnaby. It is believed to be the highest finish ever by a Kamloops team at what is a top provincial-calibre tournament.
The Rattlers were beaten by the Nanaimo Timbermen 5-3 in the championship final on Sunday. Harrison Ewert scored twice to lead Kamloops, with Cooper Kenzie rounding out the scoring. Caleb Campbell was named game MVP.
The Rattlers had entered the final off a 5-3 semifinal victory over the Ridge Meadows Burrards. Ewert scored twice, with singles coming from Trey Dergousoff, Mason Swanton and game MVP Kenzie.
That victory was especially sweet because Ridge Meadows had beaten Kamloops 5-2 in round-robin play earlier. Noah Bradley scored both of the Rattlers’ goals, and Landon Kinney was game MVP. It was a tough loss – the Rattlers had beaten Ridge Meadows twice this season at the New Westminster Bellie Bowl tournament, including a victory in the bronze-medal game.
The Rattlers’ only other loss of the weekend was an 8-3 setback to the Saanich Tigers in their opening game of the round-robin. Dergousoff scored twice, Ewert singled and Bradley was game MVP.
The Rattlers then rallied to edge eventual-champion Nanaimo, 5-4. After trailing by two goals late in the game, Millan Webster scored the shorthanded game-winner. Ewert added two more goals, with Bradley and Nolan Virgo getting one apiece. Reed Watson, who was in goal all weekend, was named game MVP.
Kamloops went on to dump the New Westminster Salmonbellies, 9-0, and Coquitlam Bronze, 14-0, with Watson earning both shutouts.
Swanton had a goal and two assists to lead the Rattlers against New Westminster, with Bradley and game MVP Dergousoff each scoring twice. Kenzie, Kinney, Ewert and Jackson Steed each singled.
Dergousoff scored three goals and three assists to pace Kamloops against Coquitlam Bronze. Ewert had two goals and two assists, Campbell and game MVP Webster had two goals each, and Kenzie had a goal and two assists. Virgo, Jax Anderson, Brady McCutcheon and Justin Vinterlik also tallied, with Bradley and Ethan Hardy each getting two assists.
Dergousoff earned all-star team honours for his efforts on the weekend, and the Rattlers were named most sportsmanlike team.
