Berths at the B.C. Hockey provincial championships next month are at stake as several Kelowna teams prepare for the start of the Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association finals this weekend.
At the midget tier 1 level, the Central Zone (Kelowna-Lake Country) Rockets will take on the Thompson Zone in the best-of-three league final, beginning this Sunday in Kamloops.
Game 2 goes Saturday, March 4 at Memorial in Kelowna, with a third and deciding game, if needed, back in Kamloops on Sunday, March 5.
The Rockets defeated the South Zone in straight games in the league semifinal, while Thompson did the same against the North Zone.
The Rockets (9-4-3) finished just two points back of Thompson (10-3-3) in the regular season standings.
The final series winner will represent OMAHA at the provincial tier 1 championship March 20 to 23 in Prince George.
Meanwhile, the Kelowna peewee Rockets will face Kamloops in the Okanagan Mainline tier 1 final starting Sunday in Kamloops. Game 2 in the best-of-three goes Saturday, March 4 at Memorial Arena in Kelowna, with a deciding game, if necessary, set for Sunday, March 5 in Kamloops.
The winner travels to the B.C. peewee tier 1 championship, March 19 to 23 in Nanaimo.
Other rep boys teams in action include the Central Zone Rockets who will meet Vernon in the best-of-three midget tier 2 final, beginning Saturday in Vernon.
In peewee tier 2 action, West Kelowna battles Vernon in the league final, kicking off Friday night, 7 p.m. at Royal LePage Place, followed by Game 2 Saturday in Vernon.
Girls finals…
Kelowna will meet Kamloops in the best-of-three bantam A girls final beginning this Saturday in Kelowna. Face-off is 2:15 p.m. at Memorial Arena.
Game 2 in the best-of-three final goes Saturday, March 4 in Kamloops, with Game 3 set for Sunday, March 5 at Kelowna Memorial Arena. The Okanagan champ will head to provincials March 19 to 23 in Richmond.
In peewee A girls action, Kelowna will also face Kamloops in the Okanagan Mainline final. Game 1 goes this Sunday, 2:20 p.m. at Memorial Arena. The second game is set for Saturday, March 4 in Kamloops, with a third game, if needed, on Sunday, March 5 in Kelowna.
The winner will advance to Surrey March 19 to 22 for the provincial championship.
For more details on the Okanagan Mainline playoffs, see omaha.ca