The 100 Mile House Wranglers are in the hunt, four points out of first place with a pair of games in hand, heading into a 10-day layoff for Christmas break.
The local Kootenay International Junior Hockey League club trail the Kamloops Storm for top spot in the Doug Birks Division, after splitting two games at home against the Revelstoke Grizzlies, which hold fourth spot.
The Wranglers fell 6-2 on Dec. 19 after a 6-3 win on Dec. 18 at the South Cariboo Rec. Centre.
100 Mile House will face off with the Chase Heat, third in the division, at home on Dec. 29 and in Chase on Dec. 30.
In the new year, the local club will host Revelstoke on Jan. 2 and the Sicamous Eagles on Jan. 3.
On Dec. 19, Justin Bond, with assists from Michael Lynch and Brett Harris, scored first for the Wranglers. Revelstoke scored twice in the second period and the same trio tied the game up for the Wranglers. Revelstoke scored four unanswered in the third period, including a shorthanded empty-netter. Ryan Friesen won star of the game for 100 Mile House. Adam Derochie made 35 saves in the loss.
On Dec. 18, Bond won star of the game for 100 Mile House and Zane Steeves made 37 saves in the win.
Brady Ward, Tyler Povelofskie, Michael Lynch, Nick McCabe and Bond (2) found the back of the net. Stephen Egan, Cole Zimmerman, Harris (2) and Povelofskie tallied assists.
Billet families were presented with flowers, hand shakes and hugs from players in a ceremony on the ice before the game.
