The Northwest Giants moved past Okanagan in B.C. major midget hockey standings following the league’s annual showcase.
The Burnaby-based Giants knocked off the North Island Silvertips twice in the weekend extravaganza, earning a 3-1 win on Saturday, before blanking the ninth-place club 3-0 on Sunday morning.
Team captain Keegan Jones scored two goals in the Sunday matchup to give the Giants their 20th win of the season.
Callahan Brebner assisted on all three Giants’ markers, including Jason Village’s opening first-period goal and second game winner in as many games.
Carter Stephenson also picked up a pair of helpers for the winners.
On Saturday, Village quickly answered a game-tying goal early in the third period from North Island’s Dawson Heathcote with just his second tally of the season.
Josh Latta, with a first-period marker, and Shane Kime also scored for the Giants.
The win brought the Giants to within 11 points of the front-running Cariboo Cougars, while remaining three game in hand over the Prince George club with 42 points to date.
With the wins, the Giants picked up three points on third-place Okangan and two on Cariboo after the showcase competition at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
The Rockets lost to the Northeast Chiefs 5-1 and also tied 6-6 in their series, while the Cougars split a pair against the Valley West Hawks.
Both the Chiefs and Hawks are currently closely challenging the leaders with 40 and 36 points, respectively.
The Giants take on the always-tough Chiefs in a weekend series that finishes off at the Burnaby Winter Club on Sunday morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The Giants will also be hosting their not-so-friendly Valentine on Feb. 14 and 15, when the Cougars come to town for a two-game set at the Burnaby Winter Club.
