The New Westminster C3 Royals came out on top at the annual Herb House midget hockey tournament.
The C3 Royals came back from a slow start to nip New West C1 for a spot in the final four on a tiebreak, and then handed New West C2 its one and only loss of the tournament en route to the gold medal.
C3 overcame an earlier 3-2 loss to C2 in pool play, defeating their association counterpart 7-1 in the tournament semifinal. Luka Djuras led the way with two first-period goals.
In the championship final, C3 scored four goals in the third period to beat Ridge Meadows 5-2 in the gold-medal final.
Djuras sparked the four-goal rally, and six seconds later Liam Bujnowicz scored the eventual game-winning goal with his second of two goals in the game. Bryce Davies also scored into an empty net.
“We’re competing with teams we’re consistent with and we’re looking for a consistent effort game in and game out, and I think they’re doing that,” said C3 assistant coach Kris Wyatt. “It takes everyone working together to pull out a win like we did today.”
Jacob Dabic had a hand in C3s two pool wins. No. 81 scored a goal and assisted on another in a 5-1 win over Oceanside.
Dabic also counted a pair of helpers, while Bujnowicz got the game-winner in a 3-1 win over Port Coquitlam.
C2 won the bronze medal, downing Mission 4-1 in the consolation final. Xander Skelton led the way with a goal and one helper, while Liam D’Aurizio chipped in with two assists.
C2 went 4-0 in pool play, including a 5-0 win over New West C1 in the Dec. 27 opener. Skelton posted a four-point outing, while Kane Piendl added a goal and two helpers.
Greg Radnidge scored the game-winner and Tyson Tonack had two assists in C2’s 3-2 win over C3 in pool play.
Jacob Chiu and Nicolas Hauka both scored two goals in a win over Oceanside. Hayden Olsen got the game-winning goal over PoCo.
C1 also finished the tourney with a 2-2 record, including an earlier 7-5 victory over Ridge Meadows.
Arjun Sidhu and Tim MacDonald both counted a pair of goals, while Sean Davidson scored the eventual game-winner at 1:15 of the opening frame.
Evan Brydon also had a big game, scoring twice and assisting on a third, in an 8-5 loss to Surrey.
New West's midget A team managed a win and a draw in four pool games, but failed to advance to the final four in A bracket of the Herb House tournament.
Philip Tashin scored a pair of goals in New West's 6-0 win over Chilliwack. Josh Launer got the go-ahead goal in an eventual 3-3 tie with Langley A2.
Aldergrove won the A gold medal, downing PoCo 6-1 in the tournament final.
