The Under-13 Kodiaks brought their best game to the biggest stage. B.C. gold was their prize.
The Kodiaks, a boys all-star team from the Prince George Youth Soccer Association, kicked to a 4-0 record at their provincial B championship tournament, held Thursday to Sunday in Powell River. In the final game, they were in complete control against the Nelson Selects and won 2-0.
"We were kind of thinking they'd give us a bigger battle," said Kodiaks coach Brad Stewart. "The score wasn't indicative of the game. We had the bigger percentage of play and possession and it could have easily been 4-0 or 5-0 in the first half."
Both goals for the Kodiaks were first-half markers by Kyle West, who was outrunning Nelson defenders all game. His first goal came off a feed from midfielder Owen Stewart and his second was a perfectly-placed header. At the other end of the pitch, Garett Shervey gave the Kodiaks shutout goaltending. He was pressed into action for provincials when regular keeper Owen Delisle suffered a broken hand in the days leading up to the tournament.
In their other games, the Kodiaks edged Terrace 2-1, defeated Peace Arch 4-1 and downed Kelowna 5-1. Their strategy -- as was the case all season -- was to keep the ball under control rather than kicking it away and running after it.
"All the teams that we played against were basically kicking and running and they couldn't compete with our knocking the ball around on the ground and keeping it," Brad Stewart said. "That's what we coach and teach. It's the game today."
The Kodiaks roster includes Ryan Gaiesky, Jonathan Doyon, Justin Hunter, Cooper Emmons, Dalton Travers, Seth Bouliane, Merek Cutler, Will Erickson, Jared MacPherson, Malcolm Lambert and Ryland Horvat. Scott Emmons is the assistant coach and Deb Stewart is the team manager.
This was the second consecutive provincial title for the Kodiaks.
Two other PGYSA clubs -- the Under-14 boys and Under-13 girls -- were also handed provincial medals on the weekend. In Penticton, the U-14 boys claimed silver after a 2-0 loss to Comox Valley in their tournament final. And, in Powell River, the U-13 girls beat West Vancouver 2-1 for bronze.
The U-18 boys, U-16 boys and U-18 girls all finished fourth in their B.C. tournaments. The U-14 girls placed sixth and the U-15 boys ended up seventh.
