League champs provincials bound

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Merritt Tracker Sportswear Midget rep league champions pose with their banner after Sunday's win in Osoyoos. The boys will head to the provincial finals on Vancouver Island March 7-11.

Merritt's Midget Reps will be heading to Victoria in March to compete in the provincial play offs for the first time in eleven years.

Merritt hosted the South Okanagan Rep team, for game two of their play off series, on Saturday evening at Nicola Valley Memorial arena, beating them 1-0 and tying the series at one a piece.

“When we got our first goal everything just fell into place,” says team captain Jordie Christy.

South Okanagan beat Merritt 6-3 the previous weekend in Osoyoos, so the boys had to win on Saturday to stay in the series.

“We played excellently on Saturday,” says head coach Joe Quewezance.

“We scored the winning goal with only nine minutes left in the third period.”

Having won Saturday's game, the Trackers were scheduled to play the series final at Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos.

“We left after the game and got hotel rooms in Osoyoos so we wouldn't have to drive in the morning,” says Quewezance.

Being well rested helped the team as they went on to beat South Okanagan 4-1 on their home ice.

“Our goal tending was really outstanding.” says Quewezance.

“Russell played really well.”

Russell Sanderson played net all weekend holding South Okanagan to just one goal in two games.

The provincial tournament will be held in Victoria starting on March 7 and ending March 11.

Ten teams will compete over five days and this is only the second time in 23 years that the midget boys have qualified for the provincials the first being in 1984 and again in 1999.

“Thanks to all of our sponsors, the parents and fans.” says Christy.

“When we won the league banner on Sunday we were louder than the Osoyoos fans.”

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