In a nutshell, the past pair of games for the Chase Heat could be summed up as a Jekyll and Hyde weekend.
From a flat loss fishing for points down the lake, to a virtuoso performance in the local concert hall, the mood of fans went from dismay to ecstacy.
The boys hopped on the bus on Friday the 16th and trundled down #1 to Shea Weber Drive, the site where the Sicamous Eagles play shinny.
Now life is a game of hard knocks and, in hockey, it’s best to expect the unexpected. On this date and time perhaps that explains the result.
The Heat were able to shift into a higher gear once or twice during the contest – the opening goal in the 2nd on the powerplay off the stick of Kolten Moore assisted by Travis Beaubien and Trevor Okino.
In the 3rd, the soaring Eagles popped a pair including one on the powerplay to take a 2-1 much-needed victory.
Nic Bruyere backstopped the Heat, stopping 35 of 37 to keep his lack of friends in this one to the bitter end.
The Eagles got a breath of fresh air while the Heat had a case of bad breath.
On Saturday the 17th, the well-rested local side hosted the talented and quick desert dogs from Osoyoos.
The Coyotes had also experienced that loving losing feeling the previous evening at the hands of the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
This classic contest in the eyes of many was the best shinny shakedown of the season, holding the fans silent and on the edges of their seats.
In the 1st, Osoyoos dominated and scored the first goal prior to Braden Hughes evening things up on the powerplay from Moore and Okino.
In the 2nd, Spencer Farstad scored a trickler that won the race from Pat Brady and Coleton Johnson.
From there it was zippedy-do as the Heat held the fort for a well-deserved 2-1 victory.
The star of the weekend was clear, as Bruyere in goal once again gave a virtuoso performance stopping 39 of 40.
Standings
The Heat sit in second place in their division while scoring 47 times and allowing 29 for an overall performance of plus-18.
Maestro Brad Fox continues to tinker with the squad, attempting to find pieces to complement and improve, Coleton Johnson from Wilcox, Sask., late of the Eagles being the most recent addition.
The tour of the season is next up as the boys head to Fernie, Creston and Kimberley for a three-game extravaganza against very tough opponents. So get your yard cleanup done while your team is out of town!
October is ‘Stick it to Cancer’ month as the game-worn pink jerseys go up for auction on Halloween, Oct. 31. The Heat have partnered once again with Team Chase for this fundraiser for breast cancer research.
