Coast Inn moves up to OMAHA penthouse

The road to Cranbrook was long but productive for the Coast Inn of the North Cougars.

They came back home from the 14-hour drive occupying top spot in the Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association’s midget Tier 1 standings after a pair of wins over the East Kootenay Ice last weekend.

The Cougars started with a 4-1 victory on Friday and beat the Ice 9-3 in the rematch Saturday.

Jaxon Danilec had two goals for the Cougars Friday and James Lalikeas and Brendan Moseley also scored. Dawson Frankforth made 23 saves as the Cougars outshot their opponents 57-24.

For having so many 15-yearolds (nine) we’re holding our own and doing quite well.

In the rematch, Danilec, Moseley and Brennan Bott each scored twice and singles went to Cougar shooters Alex Ochitwa, Matthew Magrath and Brophy Dunne.

Kevin Craig notched the victory in goal. “For having so many 15-year-olds (nine) we’re holding our own and doing quite well,” said Cougars head coach Brian Toll. “That bodes well for the Cariboo (Cougars of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey league), they’ll be able to get some good players next year.”

Now one point ahead of Central Zone (Kelowna), the Coast Cats (7-2-3) are back on the ice Saturday at 7:15 p.m. at Kin 1 to play North Zone (Vernon). North Zone (4-3-0-0) is fourth in the six-team standings. The teams meet again Sunday at 10:15 a.m. at RMCA.