The North Okanagan Knights got a 48-save, first-star performance from Chris Solecki as they shut out the host Spokane Braves 2-0 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Sunday at the Eagles Ice Arena in Washington State.
It was the Burns Lake native’s second shutout and ninth win of the season.
Special teams were also huge Sunday as North Okanagan, now 17-24-1-1, killed off six minor penalties and scored on their lone powerplay, Colin Minardi’s 18th goal of the season midway through the second period.
Tanner Burns and Brendan Jost worked the puck down low to the veteran forward, who circled out from the corner to wrist a shot past Mckinlee Baum (25 saves) top corner.
Kurtis Hagen (sixth goal) added an empty-net insurance goal on a play set up by hard-working call-up Brett Hawrys, who has assists in each of his last three games with the Knights.
Knights’ head coach Sylvain Leone credited the line of Hawrys, Zachary Lindsay and Mateja Leko, an Arkadia, Calif. product, for having a breakout weekend.
“They were consistent all weekend, game in and game out,” said Leone, who believes his team is starting to rediscover the form that earned them such a solid start to the season.
North Okanagan’s special teams were also big Saturday night, stopping 10-of-11 powerplays in a 3-2 loss to the host Creston Valley Thunder Cats at Johnny Bucyk Arena.
After a scoreless first period, the Thunder Cats (23-15-3-2) grabbed the lead on goals by Kane Dawe (17th) and first star Brandon Formosa (23rd), who scored shorthanded.
Leko answered for the Knights, capping a great three-way passing play between Lindsay and Hawrys late in the second.
Formosa (24th) restored the two-goal cushion on a powerplay five minutes into the third period, but Mindardi cut the lead to one a minute later as he jammed a puck past Weston Joseph (30 saves) shortside.
“We were right there to the end with lots of chances,” said Leone.
Knights’ netminder Chris Hurry recorded 32 saves in taking the loss.
The Knights end a four-game road schedule against the Sicamous Eagles Wednesday night. The Eagles, last in the Doug Birks division at 14-21-1-4, trail the Knights by three points, but have three games in hand.
North Okangan begin a three-game home stand against the Revelstoke Grizzlies (21-20-0-2) Saturday at Nor-Val Sports Centre.
