Trail Times
The Kootenay South Select Storm U15 Big Horns trampled the competition on their way to a bronze medal at the Les Sinnott Memorial Boys Provincial Cup in Prince George on the weekend.
It was jubilation for the Bighorns, despair for Terrace, as the Kootenay squad won 2-0 over the North Coast team to capture the bronze medal, and finish the tournament with an impressive 3-1 record.
It was the culmination of an incredible year for the KSSS eleven, coming off wins at the U16 Boys tournament in Nelson in May, followed by silver medals in Kalispell, Mont. and Couer d'Alene, Id.
Matt Liszt of Castlegar marked the winner early in the second half converting a rebound off the goalie and into the back of the net to give the Kootenay reps a 1-0 lead.
The irrepressible Liszt struck again later in the half, corralling a deft pass from Elijah Voykin and sending it home with conviction. The defence would do the rest shutting down the capable Terrace forwards with Kootenay keeper and Trail native Mike Isernia a giant in net for the shut out.
Representatives from eight regions descended on the Cariboo city including the Killarney All Stars from the Coastal region 1, the Royal City Westminster United from Coastal 2, Vancouver Island's Gorge FC, Kelowna Utd. FC, Terrace, the North Cariboo's Quesnel Strikers, and the home team.
In the opening match of round robin play the Bighorns would suffer their only loss, falling 4-1 to eventual champions Royal City Westminster United.
While nerves plagued the team in the first tilt, they would bounce back with a 6-1 devastation of the Quesnel Strikers.
Building momentum the Big Horns closed out the round robin with a 2-0 victory over the Gorge FC, on the strength of two Voykin goals and an impenetrable Rossland product, Nick Fantin, in net.
The team had a distinct West Kootenay flavour, made up of players from Trail, Beaver Valley, Rossland, Castlegar, Nelson, and Genelle, and is the first medal for a KSSS boys U15 team on record.
Royal City beat Killarney Allstars 3-2 to win the provincial championship.