Hitting the books and hitting the ice paid off for a handful of local hockey players.

Coquitlam players Josh Cardella, Antonio Farina, Ryan Leggett, Port Coquitlam's Justin Friend, Brandon Painter and Riley Schmidt and Port Moody's Matt Sippola all shared in the win last week when their Fraser Valley Oilers topped the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey's Midget Scholarship tournament, beating the Flames 2-1.

Sippola started a third-period rally by potting a shorthanded marker. With six minutes left, Sippola drew an assist on the game-winning goal to earn the final game's MVP award.

In round robin action, Leggett tallying twice in the Oilers' 53 win over the Avalanche to skate off with the MVP award. They blasted the Canucks 5-1, with Schmidt collected MVP honours with two goals and an assist. Earlier, they bested the Flames 5-3 behind Painter's 36-save performance, with the Coquitlam minor product pulling MVP honours.

At the end of the tournament, Schmidt was chosen to receive the $500 scholarship from PCAHA for his dedication on and off the ice.

The tourney drew players from across the PCAHA, all having met the minimum requirement of a 2.5 grade point average and passing a selection process, and who have not received any major penalties during the current season.