In a much closer and lower-scoring game than Friday's Northern Cup in Prince George (won by the Vancouver Ravens, 25-21), Rob Colville broke a 15-15 tie with 2:51 left to clinch the Okanagan Cup exhibition win for the Calgary Roughnecks in the first-ever NLL game held in the Okanagan Valley, in the new Great Vernon Multiplex.

2,200 edges of the 3,100 seats were taken, and all were treated to a calibre of box lacrosse that's sweeping the nation this year. All regular season games between Canadian teams are being televised, and exhibition games are literally being held from coast to coast, including this weekend's Toronto-Montreal games in Halifax and St. John, and next Sunday's Vancouver-Washington game in Victoria.

Ben Prepchuk was once again the high scorer for Calgary, with three goals and four assists. Ben looked sharp all night. His side-arm howitzer from the point to tie the game at 6-6 midway through the second quarter was perhaps the turning-point of the game. Even the Big Unit, Randy Johnson, couldn't have put more stuff on that ball, as it rose high-and-inside over Maetche's left shoulder. S-T-R-I-K-E!!! This was a big day for the Big Unit too, but that's another story.

Ben's quick stick and explosive darts to the net stumped the Raven defence on at least three occassions. Even his misses were highlight reel, especially a diving shot early in the fourth quarter to the far side of the net that made Dan Stroup's famous Dive look tame. Fortunately for Chad Miller, that one hit the post!

After Katanchik got the go-ahead goal at the six-minute mark of the second quarter, Calgary never looked back, although a late Vancouver rally tied the game at 15-15 before Colville iced the win with three minutes left.

The high man for the Ravens was Kevin Hanson, with three goals and three assists. Ben Hiltjes and Tyson Leies were pleasant surprises for the Ravens, as they both proved that they still had what it takes. Ben may have lost a step or two, but his gangly 6-6 frame towering over checks half his size brought fond memories back of his days with the New Westminster Salmonbellies, when he owned the left side of the crease.

Leies had retired from the WLA last year and from the NY Saints two years ago. He's back! He got the Vancouver comeback rally going with Vancouver's twelfth goal. Then at the eleven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, he tied it up at 15-15, and promptly celebrated by climbing the boards and inciting the 2,200 new NLL fans!

Derek Collins and Grant MacLeod split the netminding duties for Calgary, while Dwight Maetche and Chad Miller shared the Vancouver net.

Paul Dal Monte and Chris Hall, head coaches of the Ravens and Roughnecks, respectively, need to make some tough cuts by next weekend, to pare their squads to twenty-three apiece. Both these teams will be showing some of the established NLL teams a thing or two about how the game is played out west!

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
Calgary Roughnecks (1-1)              3  8  2  3  --  16
Vancouver Ravens (1-1)                4  4  3  4  --  15

CALGARY ROUGHNECKS            VANCOUVER RAVENS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Prepchuk       3 - 4     7    Hanson         3 - 3     6
Colville       3 - 1     4    Stewardson     2 - 2     4
Green          2 - 2     4    Leies          2 - 1     3
Berthiaume     1 - 3     4    Olson          2 - 1     3
Panos          1 - 3     4    Hieltjes       1 - 2     3
J Bryde        3 - 0     3    Stevenson      1 - 2     3
Alexander      1 - 1     2    F Jenner       2 - 0     2
Cable          1 - 1     2    Dwayne         1 - 0     1
Hillier        1 - 1     2    Ansley         0 - 1     1
Katanchik      1 - 0     1    Phillips       0 - 1     1
D Collins      0 - 1     1    

Shots on goal           54    Shots on goal           62
Saves made by (GA)      47    Saves made by (GA)      38
   D Collins (8)     24          C Miller (5)      23
   MacLeod (7)       23          Maetche (11)      15
Penalties               11    Penalties               11
Penalty Minutes         22    Penalty Minutes         22

   *** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH CALGARY ROUGHNECKS ***