J.R. Rardon
Gazette staff
PUERTO McNEILL — For the first time in history, the Port McNeill Downpour women's hockey club did not host a party as part of their annual hockey tournament.
Instead, they held a fiesta.
With the Downpour choosing a Mexican theme, the action was hot on and off the ice for eight teams who participated in everything from hockey games to chili pepper-eating to wagering on a "cock fight" pitting Downpour players Erin Harrison and Cyndy Grant in full rooster costumes.
A pair of Victoria teams squared off in the championship final on ice Sunday, with the Furies taking the Chili pepper trophy with a 5-2 win.
The host Downpour finished strong, topping the Courtenay Whalers 4-1 in the fifth-place game. The Downpour spotted Courtenay the opening goal, but tied it on a score by Chelsey Jones and put it away behind Ashlynne Moore's natural hat trick over the final two periods. Nicole York was solid in goal and picked up the win with scoreless play after allowing the Whalers' lone goal in the opening minute of play.
In the seventh-place game, the Port McNeill Ice Storm won the first period but the Port Hardy Wild won the game, 7-1. An unassisted goal by Ashley Parker and the goaltending of Shannon Ward carried the Ice Storm to a 1-0 lead entering the second period, when the Wild took over.
Lisa Klatt scored two goals and the Wild spread the scoring around with single goals from Kirsty Walde, Christine Robitaille, Megan Cairncross, Carmen Walsh and Jamie Demoe.
The three-day tourney featured a pot-luck lunch on Saturday hosted by the Downpour, as well as the Saturday night dinner and fiesta.