Hockey in the desert suited the Prince George Custom Edge Sports Canucks just fine.
The Canucks, a bantam club team, nearly won a division title at the President's Day Invitational tournament, which wrapped up Monday in Phoenix. The P.G. reps skated in the bantam B championship game on Monday and lost 2-1 to the Midnapore Wolves of Calgary.
"The boys played fantastic and should be proud of themselves," said Canucks manager Allison Sands. "With only 10 skaters and two goalies, they fought a great battle."
In the game, Parker Dowhy scored the only Prince George goal, on a penalty shot.
The Canucks got to the final by beating another Calgary team, the Crowfoot Saints, 5-0 in the playoff semifinal round. Jonathan French was in goal for the shutout and got offensive support from Nicholas Potskin, Jesse Rake, Dowhy, Spencer Kaulback and Dawson Young.
In their preliminary contests, the Canucks defeated the Phoenix Polar Bears 5-0, lost 6-1 to Midnapore and downed the Orange County Hockey Club 8-2.
Other Canucks players -- not all of whom made the trip -- are Trevor Clark, Josh Goyer, Sterling Cardinal, Braeden Rake, Lee Schmeisser, Darian Fay, Steffen Mogensen, Connor Scully, Brennan Bredo and goaltender Brady Patterson. The coaching staff is formed by Randy Potskin, Wayne Sands, John French and Todd Patterson.
