by Scott Koch/Contributor
The Chase Heat Junior Hockey Season concluded with two home games and a Sunday night Awards Banquet.
Friday night in the local barn our boys took on the dastardly Kamloops Storm. A very entertaining game ended with a 3-1 loss. The three stars were 1st Jacob Mattes, 2nd Aiden Silzer-Hooker and 3rd Jordan Steel. The lone goal was off the stick of Kurtis Johnson from Jared Seutter and Steel on the power play. Mattes went the distance stopping 40 of 43 between the pipes.
Saturday night saw the third-place North Okanagan Knights take a 8-2 victory back to Armstrong in the team’s last regular season game. It was a costly victory for the Knights, as three third-period tilts resulted in injuries to two of the Armstrong players. Chase got goals from Kevin Leschuk on the powerplay and Reese Forman shorthanded.
This spirited contest was closer then the score indicates with all the puck luck going to the Knights. Mattes once again provided top-notch backstopping in net.
Sunday night saw the first annual Awards Banquet take place at the community hall. Board members and team volunteers put on a sumptuous dinner prior to the presentation. The packed hall crowd was clearly there to see which of their favourites would go home with some shiny new hardware.
Award winners:
Carlin Family Award (Top Scorer) to Salmon Arm’s Kevin Leschuk; Ernie & Mary Erickson Award (Top Scholastic Player) to Reece Forman; Blue Spruce Award (Unsung Hero) to Jared Seutter; Norm & Jean Stelter Award (Most Improved) to Jacob Mattes; Heat Jr. Hockey Society (Most Dedicated) to Ethan Kalugin; Silver Fox Award (Rookie of the Year) to Reece Forman; Bob Koch Memorial Award (Most Sportsmanlike) to Jared Seutter; Chase Heat Award (Fan Favourite) to Owen Barker; Harry & Jane Torbohm Award (Top Defenceman) to Mitchell Rosko; Patterson Family Award (Most Valuable Player) to Kurtis Johnson
The entire Heat Organization believes that each of the players is an award winner.
During the season the team won some, lost a few, provided enjoyable entertainment and will be back with a vengeance next season. The hours that were put in this year by the society, hockey operations and volunteers were countless. Support for the team has been much appreciated.
A Winter Rust Removing Dance will take place March 3 for $20, and Spring Camp goes March 30 to April 1.