The Campbell River Over 35 ‘A’ Team defeated last year’s Opener Oldtimers tournament winners to take this year’s title to kick off their season.
The Campbell River ‘A’ Team defeated the always strong Courtenay Plumbers in the opening game 5-4. Campbell River went on to beat the Nanaimo Luckies 7-5 and the Comox Valley Ice Holes 9-1 to reach the final of the top ‘Islander’ Division.
Campbell River who met the Courtenay Plumbers in last year’s final and lost, had their opportunity to redeem themselves as the Plumbers made the final again on points through the round robin.
Campbell River jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first period and maintained leads of 3-1 and 4-2, eventually winning the game 5-2. The Campbell Over 35 ‘A’s will play exhibition games up and down the island and compete in ‘A’ level tournaments leading up to the Pacific Cup in Victoria in January 2012. This team finished runner-up and this large tournament in 2010 losing to the Bear Mountain (Victoria) team made up of all ex-professional players in the final.