The major bantam Cariboo Cougars made the final of the Okanagan Classic tournament in Kelowna on the weekend but fell 10-3 to Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy.
To get to the championship game, the Cats won quarterfinal and semifinal contests in shootouts. In the quarterfinal, they downed Okanagan Hockey Academy Prep 2-1. Then, in the semifinal round, the Cougars got past St. Albert 3-2. Cariboo goalie Jaiden Jakubowski stopped the final shooter in both those games.
The Cats went 2-1 in preliminary play, with wins against Knights of Columbus (6-4) and Delta Hockey Academy (8-3) and a loss to the North Island Silvertips (4-2).
The Cougars will resume league play this weekend with a pair of home games against the Vancouver Northwest Hawks. The teams will square off on Saturday at Kin 1 (7:45 p.m.) and Sunday at CN Centre (12:45 p.m.).
The Cats are currently in fourth place in the B.C. Hockey Major Bantam League at 11-11-0-2 while the Hawks are eighth and last at 4-15-2-1.