The Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association's Mid-Island U13 Playoff Championships were held March 8-10 at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena.
The hometown U13 'Daly's Auto Centre' Lakers won the banner in the end, after a weekend of hard work and determination. The team finished second in the league standings but won a 7-6 nail-biter against Nanaimo in their playoff finals on home ice. It was a solid follow up to winning silver at Oceanside Minor Hockey's end-of-season tournament.
The U11 C1 won their championship banner in Port Alberni the very same weekend with a little help from a few additional players from the U11 C2 team.
The U11 C2 team won bronze at the Alberni Valley MHA end-of-season tournament.
"Both of the U11 teams and the U13s played much of the season with short benches, and their great successes were bolstered by a dedicated group of affiliate players," said Lake Cowichan District Minor Hockey spokesperson Rachel Zalinko.
Also in March, the U18 'Countrywide Realty' Lakers were in Parksville in their own Mid-Island playoffs and after playing two solid games, they, too, brought home a championship banner.
The U18 team weren't done for the season, however as players suited up to face the Lake Cowichan Fire Department in the annual food bank fundraiser game on March 29.
"While the U18 squad didn't fare so well on the scoreboard, the real winner was Lake Cowichan Food Bank as they received $1,114.15 in funds raised (plus food donations) from the event," Zalinko confirmed.
The Lake Cowichan District Minor Hockey Association held their annual general meeting and awards on April 6. Award-winner weren't available by press-time but will be reported on in a future edition of the Lake Cowichan Gazette.
"The executive wishes to thank all the players, parents, on-ice officials and volunteers for another great season of minor hockey in Lake Cowichan," Zalinko said.
