Junior Grizzlies shred the Nelson Leafs 7-5

Revelstoke's Riley Hunt pulls off a hat trick with this goal against the Nelson Leafs Sunday. David F. Rooney photo
Revelstoke's Riley Hunt pulls off a hat trick with this goal against the Nelson Leafs Sunday. David F. Rooney photo

By David F. Rooney

In a hard-fought seesaw battle, the junior Revelstoke Grizzlies achieved a 7-5 victory over the junior Nelson Leafs to win gold at the Bantam Tournament at the Forum this weekend.

The Leafs were no pushovers: they were motivated and aggressive and certainly dominated the first half of the game maintaining a two-goal lead over the Grizzlies until mid-way through the second period when Revelstoke’s Rile Hunt managed a hat trick. The Grizzlies tied and then steadily pulled ahead.

The Leafs tied it up 4-4 in the third but the Grizzlies eventually prevailed. It was Bantam hockey at its best.

Here are a couple of other images from the game:

The nelson goalie beats the marksman is this seconds-long drama during the Bantam Tournament championship game Sunday afternoon. David F. Rooney photo
The Nelson goalie beats the marksman is this seconds-long drama during the Bantam Tournament championship game Sunday afternoon. David F. Rooney photo
Nelson fans watch the action down the rink at the Grizzlies net. Nelson dominated the first period 3-1 and part of the second before the Bantam Junior Grizzlies roared back. David F. Rooney photo
Nelson fans watch the action down the rink at the Junior Grizzlies' net. Nelson dominated the first half of the game before the Bantam Junior Grizzlies roared back to win. David F. Rooney photo