After five years of on-ice action, the Heat Junior Hockey Club has garnered a franchise record with 59 points – with five games left to play. They are the KIJHL league leaders on special teams and are guaranteed a playoff spot. Definitely some things for the fans to appreciate, and the entire community to be proud of.
So, the question must be asked – where are these fans? There is definitely a diehard group that solidly support the team and organization, but where are the curious, the non-committed and those looking for a social outlet?
The team just completed a stretch of five games in eight nights, winning three, but losing two to competition ahead of the Heat in their division.
This past week saw road wars in the Houseboat Capital and the Mountain Mecca, and then a battle at home with the visiting Cariboo Cowboys.
On Tuesday, Feb. 2 the boys were in Sicamous versus the Eagles. Affiliate player Rylen Van Unen made a stellar debut in the lineup by firing four goals to lead the Heat to a 6-3 victory. In the 1st, Van Unen from Spencer Farstad and Kolten Moore. Then Van Unen from Moore and Mason Palaga, before Pat Brady got one from Brad Whitehead and Alex Durbeniuk.
In the 2nd, Van Unen from Palaga and Moore, then Sicamous got on the board before Van Unen went back to work from Moore and Whitehead. In the 3rd Travis Beaubien popped one in from Austin Willier and Zach Fournier.
The Eagles scored a pair just to make it interesting. Daniel Toews stopped 24 of 27 to backstop the victory.
Friday night the 5th found the Heat warriors in Revelstoke opposing the Grizzlies. Chase got off to a 3-0 lead in the 1st, Tommy Brown from Moore and Durbeniuk, then Brady on a beauty from Trevor Okino and Ethan Buck, before Michael Fidanza on the power play popped one in from Brown and Okino. In the 2nd, Josh Bourne made it 4-0 from Okino and Toews. The 3rd featured two additional goals by the Heat bookended by a pair of Revelstoke markers, Whitehead on the power play from Durbeniuk and Bourne, and Kaden Black from Farstad and Fournier. Toews in the twine stymied 39 of 41 attempts at scoring by the tenacious Cubs.
February 6th at the Art Holding Memorial Arena, saw Division rivals 100 Mile House Wranglers drop in for some pounding and whacking. Maybe too much hockey for the local crew on top of a relentless attack by the visitors, this one went in the books as a 3-2 loss for the Heat. The Wranglers opened scoring before Beaubien on the power play evened things up, assisted by Okino and Hughes. The Wranglers attack got a 2nd tally to end the first up 2-1. In the 2nd, “Downtown” Tommy Brown scored from Van Unen, and then the Cariboo Cattle Herders got the eventual game winner.
No scoring in the 3rd resulted in victory for the visitors. Nic Bruyere got in front of 30 of 33 in a solid performance in net.
Rylen Van Unen was not the only affiliate player and new face in the lineup, as Cory Loring from Williams Lake joined the Heat for the pair of weekend contests. Tried, tested and true, the Heat have found some young talent for now and the future.
Next up at home is the big city unit, the Kamloops Storm on Saturday the 13th at 7 p.m. The curious should attend and catch a glimpse of rock and roll shinny while conversing with friends and neighbours. See you there with your hair slicked back and your favourite jeans on!