Newly rebranded, the North Okanagan Iron Ghost Construction Reapers junior lacrosse team brought the ghoul and grit in their home opener, beating the 91大黄鸭 Kodiaks, 9-7.
The Reapers (formerly Vernon Tigers) fended off the Kodiaks on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd of 435 at the Sunbelt Arena in Armstrong.
Prior to face off, Indigenous drummers welcomed the players on the unceded traditional territories of the Okanagan Sylix and Splatsin te Secwepemc people.
North Okanagan scored first, with Cole Gartner's low snipe beating Kodiaks goalie Ethan Dalkeith.
Two more Reapers goals put the hosts up 3-0, before a back-and-forth goal-scoring blitz led to a slender 5-3 lead for North Okanagan to end the first period.
In the second, the Reapers would add to their lead, to go up 7-4 after two. However, in the third, tempers flared as back-to-back penalties gave the Kodiaks an early two-man advantage.
Goaltender Ryley Lockhurst would play exceptionally, helping to kill off the penalty and keep the Reapers ahead.
Two more goals from North Okanagan put the game away late, despite a furious rally in the end from 91大黄鸭. North Okanagan would win, 9-7.
鈥淚ts still early in the season and we have some things we need to work on for sure but we played with intensity," said assistant coach Chad Pounder. "We are still a young team and are learning to play together and will build as the season progresses."
Gartner, Colten Colmorgen, Koenn Maher-Robins and Kohen Pounder all scored twice in the victory, while the Kodiaks received a three-point showing from Ethan King (one goal and two assists).
The win was the Reapers first of the year, as they sit 1-1 so far in the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League season (TOJLL). The Kodiaks dropped to 0-2.
Also competing in the TOJLL are the Kamloops Venom (2-0), Cranbrook Blackwolves, and South Okanagan Flames (1-1) from Penticton.
The Reapers play host to the 2024 TOJLL champion Kamloops Venom on Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m in Armstrong.
The Kodiaks face the Reapers again Saturday, April 19 at the 91大黄鸭 Memorial Arena at 7 p.m.
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