The local Junior Hockey Team the Heat played host to the Sicamous Eagles on Wednesday Nov. 28 at Art Holding Memorial Arena.
The shots were low for both teams on this evening but for a change the goalies both had what one would consider off nights.
Jake Mattes lasted a little over 12 minutes after letting four biscuits into the basket. Devon Pearson came on in relief for the rest of the game and saw five pucks pass the goal line. The end result a 9 – 3 win for the visiting Eagles.
The Heat got goals from Shelby Kostyshen, Taylor Jordan and Kaleb Carpenter, Dom Hodges picked up two assists. The last contest of the month saw 184 fans in attendance.
Several days later and a lot of player movement occurring due to a Dec. 1 deadline saw the team taking the ice with a different look.
Gone are Taylor Jordan and Karsten Banack and in came defenceman Michael Keyes and forward Marc MacKenzie. Keyes was with the Heat last year, was traded to the Rockies and wanted back with the local side. He is a local player and has renewed dedication to his craft and team. MacKenzie played with the former Chiefs as a 16-year-old and went on to play in the Western Hockey League. He is finishing off some university courses in Kelowna and the hockey bug bit, as a 19-year-old he brings experience, size and skill.
With the new bodies on the roster the Heat took on last year’s league champions the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
Two hundred and eighty-four fans were out of their seats all night in a thrilling contest. Chase opened scoring with Dom Hodges potting a goal, assisted by MacKenzie. The Nite Hawks got that one back in the second period. In the third Shelby Kostyshen scored, assisted by MacKenzie and Hodges. Then Beaver Valley scored three unanswered goals, the last being an empty netter. At the final buzzer the score was 4 – 2 for the visitors but the energy was evident as the local team intends to turn things around.
On Wednesday night, Dec. 5, the Heat played to a 3-3 tie versus the North Okanagan Knights at the Art Holding Arena.
The Heat hit the road for a pair of games this weekend versus the Osoyoos Coyotes and Penticton Lakers.