Their winning streak was halted by a .500 team, but the North Okanagan Knights were hardly bitter after falling 3-2 to the Golden Rockets Sunday afternoon at Nor-Val Sports Centre.
The Knights brushed back the host Sicamous Eagles 4-2 Saturday night for their seventh straight Kootenay International Junior Hockey League win.
Carson George, Keith Wake and Justin Fulton scored as Golden knocked off the Knights, improving to 6-6-0-1 for a share of third place in the Eddie Mountain Division. The Knights are 11-4 and third in the Doug Birks Division.
“They’re (Golden) not a bad team,” said Knights’ winger Tanner Burns, of Vernon. “They just seemed to get all the bounces. We played a full 60 minutes and I think the coaches were happier with our effort than they were in our win (over the Kelowna Chiefs) Friday night.”
Nathan Browne, a Vernon product, and Cory Hochhausen replied for the Knights, who outshot the Rockets 37-24. Golden goalie Jarod Schamerhorn earned the win, while Colten Wright took the loss.
Burns, who missed three weeks with a concussion and pneumonia, bagged 1+2 to earn first star against the Eagles (4-10). He was on a line with Ben Greenaway (2G) and Bryce Koch.
“I felt pretty good,” said Burns, a late cut of the BCHL Vernon Vipers. “Ben is good at finding the open spaces so he makes it pretty easy to hit him with a pass. The three of us play well together.”
Brendan Jost also scored for North Okanagan, while Jameson Stoski and Corbin Marcotte replied for Sicamous, who were outshot 41-22. Wright recorded the win.
The Knights host the 0-15 Chase Heat Saturday night and visit the league-leading 12-1-0-2 Kamloops Storm Sunday.
