The Ridge Meadows Hustlers captured the 2011 Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association bantam spring break tournament title in thrilling fashion last Sunday afternoon in Gibsons.

With the score tied 3-3, the Hustlers and Mission Express headed for a five-minute overtime period playing four on four, which deciding nothing, so it was on to a five-player shoot-out where the Hustlers took gold after scoring on three of their five shots.

The Semiahmoo Chiefs finished in third spot after they beat Sunshine Coast C2, coached by Ian Martin and Greg Stewart, 8-5 on Sunday morning. Semiahmoo finished third in round robin play while Sunshine Coast C2 finished fourth in round robin play.

Round robin play started on Friday night, March 18 with Sunshine Coast C2 beating Sunshine Coast C1, coached by Nate and Theresa deBoer, 4-3. Other results from the Coast teams included: Mission over Sunshine Coast C1, 5-2; Ridge Meadows over Sunshine Coast C2, 8-2; Ridge Meadows over Sunshine Coast C1, 8-1; Sunshine Coast C2 over Semiahmoo, 7-4; and Mission over Sunshine Coast C1, 7-1.

“The tournament went very smoothly,” said co-ordinator Carrie Caldwell. “I want to thank all the local businesses that supported the tournament as well as the parent volunteers, and a special thanks to Theresa deBoer who was by my side for the whole tournament.”

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This weekend, action continues at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre with the Atom Spring Fling Tournament featuring the Sunshine Coast Oilers, Ducks and Sharks. Games run from 8 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. today (March 25), 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.