Jets, TNT eliminated after round robin concludes

An unprecedented three-way tie in each pool left six teams in a virtual deadlock after round robin play at the EKanite Consulting/SCWHL Provincial Championship tournament in Hope.

After the two early games Saturday, the South Fraser TNT and Fraser Valley Jets were eliminated while the Kamloops Vibe, North Shore Rebels, Meadow Ridge Moose and Richmond Devils moved on to tonight’s semi-final games. All six teams in the tournament finished the round robin with one win and one loss, meaning goal difference decided which teams stay in Hope and who goes home.

The first game of the day saw Kamloops defeat the TNT 5-1 to clinch first place in Pool A. The Vibe got goals from Jenna Ormondy, Melinda Smith, Marjorie Boisvert, Madeline Hubbard and Allison Aie to go up 5-0.

Tiffany Chiu got one back for the TNT, which needed a second goal to edge Meadow Ridge for second place in the group. With the Moose watching from the stands of the Hope and District Arena, the TNT fired 16 shots at Vibe netminder Ashley Fisher but couldn’t get another goal.

The second game of the day saw the North Shore Rebels top the Richmond Devils 2-0, a result that allowed both teams to advance to the semifinals.

Cassidy Bell scored the game-winning goal early in the first period then assisted on an insurance tally by Shannon Morris-Reade late in the second period.

The result left the Fraser Valley Jets on the outside looking in, even though their win-loss record was the same as every other team in the tournament.

Saturday’s semifinals will put the Richmond Devils against the Kamloops Vibe at 5:15 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the North Shore Rebels play the Meadow Ridge Moose.