Pacific rep in Centennial Cup finals

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There was no miracles for the Olds Grizzlys this time. The team that got to the Doytle Cup final by coming back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series fell behind Kelowna and stayed there.

The first two games were played in the Okanagan, the Spartans winning 4-3 and

5-2, largely on the strength of their goaltending. Dieter Kochen, who came to Kelowna from Wisconsin of the United States Junior Hiockey League, virtually stole the games from the visiting Grizzlys. After two victories, the balance of the series moved to Alberta.

Kochen was the story there, too. In game three, he faced down two point-blank Olds scoring opportunities in the first few seconds. Olds kept coming in that game, even after falling behind 3-1 in the second period. In overtime, the Grizzly's Aaron Zimmell popped the winner after 5 1/2 minutes.

Olds captain Darcy Dallas, the best player of the series, felt that the series had turned around after the game. He said they had to stop the Kelowna power plays.

Grizzlys' forward Eric Fulton agreed: "What hurt us in each game so far," he

said after game three, "is the break-out on the power play. By the time we recover, they're set up in our zone. It's incredibly fast."

Game three was the highlight of the series for the Grizzlys. The B.C. champions turned their game around after that and won the next two games to win the best-of-seven Pacific Region championship 4-1 in decisive style.

Spartans are a big team, but quick forward Curtis Fry is not. He played for two years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with St. Albert Saints before going to B.C. this season.

Fry, who skates like lightening, described the game as a difficult one for the Spartans. "We came out flat and were getting used to the arena, trying to get our legs back. For a lot of the game, we were going through a feeling out process with Olds."

Jim Hammett, Spartans' coach saw game three differently, however. "In Kelowna we played 60 minutes of hockey. We didn't do that in the first game in Olds. I've never known this team to give up four goals in one period."

The Spartans were not pressed by Olds in the Doyle Cup final. Kelowna goes into the Centennial Cup rested and healthy.

They will travel to Amherst, Nova Scotia, for the finals, where they will run into the storied Flin Flon Bomers, the Prairie champions.

The tournament kicks off with a round robin beginning on May 7.

The final game wil e played on May 15 at 2:00 p.m. Atlantic time.