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Alley Nyuli's father at the ceremonial puck drop. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
This is the first year of the minor hockey tournament honouring Kelowna's Alley Nyuli, and local teams are already showing their stuff.
Alley's Tournament of Hearts ran Friday to Sunday, and teams were geared up for the championship games on Sunday. Thirteen teams competed in all, with three from Kelowna. Other minor hockey players came from places such as Vernon, Kamloops, Langley, Campbell River, and Vanderhoof.
The PeeWee championship game was in the morning, and after Nyuli's father, Fire Chief Curtis Nyuli did the ceremonial puck drop, the teams from Kelowna and Surrey set off in high gear. Kelowna grabbed an early two goal lead against Surrey, using this momentum to eventually win 6-1 for gold.
The Kelowna PeeWee team beat Surrey 6-1. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
Kelowna Peewee team celebrating gold. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
Kelowna Peewee team with their gold medals. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
Surrey Peewee team proudly wearing silver. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
Kelowna also had a team in the Bantam championship game, though this team didn't fair quite as well. Maple Ridge took the game 7-0, with Kelowna settling for silver.
Kelowna Bantam team showing off their silver medals. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
The Maple Ridge Barracudas won gold against Kelowna in the Bantam division (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
The championship for the Midget category came down to Vanderhoof and South Delta, marking the only category where Kelowna didn't make it to the final.
Peewee action (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
Bantam division action. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow)
Alley's Tournament of Hearts will now be held annually for girl's minor hockey, remembering Nyuli's passion for the game. The 21-year-old was killed in a tragic car accident on January 28th of this year.
Click here to find out more about how the brand new tournament aims to honour Nyuli.
(Photo Credit: Contributed)
Click here for more photos from the finals.
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