The Chase Heat soared against the Kamloops Storm and then were stormed out of town by the Sicamous Eagles. It was a weekend of contrary actions and confusing results.
Friday night the 13th, under a huge full moon, the Storm and Heat converged at the Art Holding Memorial Arena. Attendance was at 248 and the Heat volunteers were thankful for the faith shown in the efforts they make to provide great entertainment all winter long. In the first period, the Loops Lads get scoring started with a power-play counter from John Ludvig. That is followed by Kaden Black notching the match at 1-1, from Spencer Farstad and Mason Palaga.
In the second, the big fellow from Williams Lake, Cory Loring, scores unassisted, giving the Chasers the lead. The third is the Michael Fidanza show, assisted by Cody Hodges and Travis Beaubien. The trio, put together to dominate, do just that!
Kamloops pops one in from Jaydon Castle to tie the game, and then Hodges from Fidanza and Beaubien get the ball rolling. Next up, is Cam Watson with his first KIJHL goal, on the power play from Palaga and Fidanza. Then a pair from Fidanza, the first from Pat Brady and Hodges, the second from Hodges and Beaubien. After the weekend Fidanza sits four points off the KIJHL scoring lead! Nic Bruyere stops 38 of 40 to backstop the victory 6-2.
The second game of the weekend takes place on Shea Weber Way in the Houseboat Capital of Canada. This contest, right off the get-go, is a horse of a different colour. The Eagles score the lone goal of the first period from Spencer Selby, in the second they get a power-play goal from Jordan Bautista. In the third, they add to their lead with a pair from Dominic Dumas, and Bautista with his second. With 2:47 left, Pat Brady ruins the shutout bid with help from Black and Josh Bourne. This one ends 4-1 with Zak Larson repelling 29 of 33 Eagle shots in a valiant effort to keep his friends in it.
So the weekend went from a virtuoso performance under a full moon, to a dud of a doozy upstream of Chase.
Due to a quirk in scheduling, the Heat play Revelstoke on Tuesday the 17th at home, before heading to Summerland for a Friday encounter with the Steam. There are no home games next weekend, but the Storm will be back for revenge as they host the Heat on Wednesday the 25th. Next home action is on Saturday the 28th versus the North Okanagan Knights.
The Heat continue their overall success, remaining atop their division with a three-point lead over 100 Mile House. They are currently sixth overall in the KIJHL standings.