National ball hockey championships underway in C.B.S.

Both Newfoundland teams are undefeated after Thursday, the first day of play in the national men’s B ball hockey championship being played in Conception Bay South.

The St. John’s Thunder downed the Mighty Drunks of British Columbia 4-1 and Edmonton Dirty Birds 3-1. In the latter game, Kevin Reid scored all three goals for the Thunder.

The other Newfoundland entry — Pops Pride — had two ties on Day 1, playing the Calgary Crusaders to a 4-4 draw (Sean Wadden had three assists for the Pride), then coming up with the same result against the Mighty Drunks.

The national men’s C and D championships are also being contested at the C.B.S. Stadium and Robert French Memorial Stadium.

In the C event, Newfoundland’s JSM Electrical and Gros Morne Wild Gulls both were winners in their opening games on Thursday, while the Eat Clean Wild, the province’s lone entry in the D tourney, lost its first contest. Preliminary play in the tourneys, which has attracted entries from B.C., Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick besides Newfoundland and Labrador, continues today and Saturday.

Medal games are set for Sunday.