The local Junior Hockey Club, the Chase Heat, entered the past weekend’s two-game home stand with the knowledge they would be facing fierce competition.
After two solid games they landed first place in their division.
It started Friday night, Sept. 16, in the form of the North Okanagan Knights from Armstrong.
The youngster that would eventually be the home-team star got Chase on the scoresheet three minutes in, Pat Brady from Michael Fidanza and Nolan Parr.
However, the Armstrong squad came back with a pair from Brady Marzocco and Matthias Urbanski, both powerplay markers. With four seconds left, Kaden Black assisted by Grady Musgrave and Brady tied the game 2-2.
In the second, there was plenty of meet and greet-face-and-fist get togethers.
During the third, the dancing increased as the parade to the penalty box continued.
Fidanza from Brady and Josh Bourne, followed by the Knights third powerplay goal off the twig of Gavin Lawrie, then Fidanza again from Brady and Mason Palaga.
Regulation time ended 4-4 after North Okanagan’s Logan Geefs tied it up. Off to Overtime and Brady scored from Palaga and Spencer Farstad 54 seconds in. Brady finished with two goals, three assists, and is this weeks ‘Who’s Hot in the KI’, with the Knights’ goaltender Conor Webb being the away star after facing 50 shots.
Two storms hit Chase Saturday, Sept. 17.
One whipped up winds and rain like a large crowd at an outside all you can eat and drink, Bar and Beanery.
The other one arrived by bus from Kamloops to compete at the Art Holding Memorial Arena.
The Kamloops crew got off to a great start, a pair of counters from the stick of Hayden Dick, the second on the powerplay. Farstad got one back from Black and Brady, leaving 2-1.
In the second Grady “Gravy Train” Musgrave got the monkey off his back scoring his first ever KIJHL goal, assisted by Kolten Moore and Farstad.
The Storm got a powerplay marker from Garrett Ewert to make it 3-2 visitors.
In the third, Heat patience and perseverance paid off, as three…count them…three unanswered goals deflated the visiting team.
Spencer Meyer earned his first KIJHL tally, from Brady and Fidanza.
Travis Beaubien finished with his first of the season from Palaga and Evan Hughes. Finishing the 5-3 come-from-behind victory was Zachary Fournier, his first of 2016-17, from Black and Musgrave.
Once again the foes’ goaltender was picked as Away Star, Spencer Eschyschyn facing 41 bullets, while the big fella Meyer received Home Star honours.
The Heat had three players in the top five scorers in the KIJHL, Fidanza at 1, followed by Moore and Brady. A historic first for the Heat going into the game Saturday.
Next weekend the Heat face the Sicamous Eagles Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., after a Friday encounter with the Grizzlies in Revelstoke.