Josh Coblenz’ goal was golden.
The forward scored in overtime Wednesday giving the Campbell River Tyees a 2-1 victory over Burnaby Winter Club and the gold medal at the B.C. Bantam Tier 2 championships in Trail.
“It was the second shift in OT, there was loose puck, Josh picked it up, got a step on his man, fired a shot and went off the post and in – unreal!” said head coach Peter Martin, trying to be heard over the sound of hooting and cheering Tyees.
Speaking by cell phone just after the game, Martin said it was a back-and-forth contest, but there was no score heading into the third period.
Eight minutes into the final frame, Burnaby took a 1-0 lead. Then, with five minutes left, Grayden McInnes tied it up for the Tyees with a great shot over the blocker of the Burnaby netminder.
And that set the stage for Coblenz’ heroics.
Martin said his team never lost their cool or their heads, and that’s what made the difference.
“They’re real comfortable in close games,” he said. “It’s asking a lot of 14- and 15-year-old kids to play like men, and they did! They just do it. They just get it done.”
The championship victory was also sweet revenge for Campbell River which lost just one game in the tournament, a 3-2 decision to Burnaby during the preliminary round.
The Tyees advanced to the final by edging Cranbrook 4-3 in Tuesday night’s semi-final. According to the scoring summary it was a great game between two very skilled teams.
Campbell River led 3-1 going into the third period and hung on as Cranbrook scored, with just over a minute remaining, to pull within a goal, but that’s as close they came.
Tyson Goebel scored the game-winner for Campbell River with just five minutes remaining in the third, assisted by Josh Coblenz. It was Goebel’s second goal of the game while single markers were notched by Cole Rennie and Joe Gage.
In the preliminary round, the Tyees trounced Fort St. John 13-2 and defeated the Westside Warriors 8-7.
Burnaby advanced to the championship game with a 3-1 victory over the host team from Rossland-Trail.
For the latest updates, follow www.campbellrivermirror.com or visit www.BCHockey.net, click “Championships” and then “Bantam Tier 2.”