The local shinny squad, the Heat, tangled with the Grizzlies from Revelstoke on Tuesday the 17th at the Art Holding Memorial Arena.
Nothing is ever routine between these two teams as hacking, whacking, slashing and crashing are four elements of engagement. While this contest was tamer than most, the score wasn’t settled until late in the third period.
Chase opened scoring with Mason Palaga doing the honours from Ryan Okino and Cory Loring. Then Evan Hughes made it 2-0 from Grady Musgrave and Travis Beaubien. Revelstoke came back with a power-play marker from David Lenzin, before Beaubien closed out the period from Josh Bourne and Okino. After 20 minutes, it’s 3-1 homeside.
In the second, Chase gets a second goal from Beaubien, assisted by Bourne and Hughes. Then the Grizzlies pot a pair, the first from Jordan Rea and the second, another power-play counter, this time from Raphael Bassot. The Heat cap the middle stanza with a goal from Spencer Farstad, assisted by Bourne and Okino. It’s now 5-3 homeside.
In the third, Revelstoke scores a third power-play marker from Jon Vandermolen to create a great deal of anxiety. However, Bourne, with four seconds left, gets an empty net tally from Beaubien and Farstad, to deliver a 6-4 win. The locals, down six regulars due to injury and illness, saw their remaining veterans bring their A game to ensure the success.
Next match was held in Summerland, the home of the Steam, on Friday the 20th. A full lineup had no excuses for a mediocre performance, resulting in a loss to an apparent equal in the standings. Palaga once again got things started, this time on the power play from Bourne and Beaubien. Then the Steam got a pair from Ben Dietrich-Scammel and Josh Pilon on a power play. In the second, Summerland scored a duo, the first from Andrew York and then a power-play goal from the stick of Riley Pettitt. The Heat get back in this one on the power play, as Grady Musgrave does the deed from Zachary Fournier and Pat Brady. But the Okanagan lads cap the middle period with a goal from Levi Johnson.
In the third, Chase creeps closer on a goal from Fournier, assisted by Jake Delorme and Brady, before Pettitt gets his second for Summerland. Then Bourne gets Chase close again from Michael Fidanza and Loring. With Nic Bruyere pulled for an extra attacker, the Steam put icing on their cake with a short-handed, empty-netter from Jarrett Malchow. This one hurts as the Heat lose 7-4 to a seldom-seen rival.
The Heat are guaranteed a playoff spot and early bird tickets will be available to the first two games. Regular prices apply if you buy before the end of the regular season for those two games. After that, the price is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for youths. The year-end awards banquet will be on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Adams Lake Indian Band Gym and Conference Centre, tickets available at home games.