SPORTSINBRIEF
LACROSSE
Close, hard-fought games was the common theme in the South Okanagan Flames seasonopening three-game homestand.
After tying their first two games, the Flames dropped a 15-14 decision to the defendingchampion Kamloops Venom in Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League play Monday at Memorial Arena.
Nate Fraser scored five goals, Colton Boomer added four and Kamloops overcame 3-0 and 5-2 deficits with a huge flurry in the second period to improve to 2-1-0 on the season.
Callum Gordon scored twice and Anthony Matusiak, Tylor Seabrooke, Marcello Bose and Derek Rockvam also clicked for the winners.
Ben Olsen had five goals to pace the Flames, Carson Shortreed had a hat-trick, Liam McLaren scored twice and Freddy Harbinson, Cairo Rogers, Austin Swanson and Jake Mcleod had one each for South Okanagan. Aiden Canada added four assists.
The Flames led 7-5 after the first period, but Kamloops scored eight of the next nine goals to go ahead 10-6 — a lead they would not surrender.
The Flames play their first road game Saturday night against the first-place Vernon Tigers (3-0-1) at Kal Tire Place.
The Flames also play at Kamloops May 17 and Armstrong May 25 before their next home game on Monday, May 28 versus Armstrong.
BCHL
Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) has won the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Rookie Award for the 2017-18 season.
Newhook, a 17-year-old St. John’s, N.L., product, garnered the accolades within the 132-team CJHL, through voting completed by each of its 10-member leagues from across the country.
In his first year in the Junior-A ranks, Newhook led all BCHL rookies in points this season with 66 in 45 games. He tallied 22 goals and helped Victoria claim the Island Division title.
In November, Newhook had four points in five games while playing for Team Canada Black at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.
Newhook earlier committed to Boston College (Hockey East) where he will attend school on NCAA Div. I scholarship for the 2019-20 season and skate for the Eagles men’s hockey program.