Steam on the road
The Summerland Steam hit the road for Osoyoos and North Okanagan this weekend after earning a 4-2 victory over the Kelowna Chiefs at home on Jan. 6.
The Osoyoos Coyotes are first in the Okanagan Division with 55 points. The Steam improve to 21-7-1-3, good for 46 points, while the Chiefs are 18-15-1-1 for 38 points.
Following a six-year hiatus, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Top Prospects game returns. The KIJHL is hosting a Recruiting Showcase in conjunction with the Kelowna Midget Invitational. The Top Junior Prospects in the KIJHL will meet in a Okanagan versus Kootenay match up at 2 p.m. at Rutland Arena on Jan. 14. The Summerland Steam will be represented by rookie Morey Babakaiff, who has two goals and 11 points in 30 games as a 17-year-old. Babakaiff, a Penticton native, will be joined by fellow Pentictonite and former Steam Raphael Bassot, who is listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury. Bassot, 17, leads the Revelstoke Grizzlies in scoring with 10 goals and 26 points in 27 games.
OHAers on world stage
At the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation under-18 World Championship in Zlin, Czech Republic, Canada is playing Sweden in the semifinal Friday at 7 a.m. Canada’s roster features Okanagan Hockey Academy players Nara Elia, Sophie Shirley and Olivia Knowles. Knowles is one of the alternate captains.
Canada is 3-0-0 heading into the match. Shirley has three assists, while Knowles has a goal and two points.
Lakers defeat Voodoo
The Pen High Lakers senior boys basketball team picked up a 64-58 victory against the Rutland Voodoo on the road on Jan. 10.
The victory improves the Lakers to 4-1 in Okanagan Valley 4A league play after a loss to the Kelowna Owls on Jan. 3.
READ MORE: Lakers top Voodoo in senior basketball
Lakers coach Colin Cook said they had a sloppy start with several turnovers and a lack of focus. They trailed 38-28 in the third quarter.
“Our size and strength took over. We really killed them on the glass,” said Cook. “Jake Stokker continued to lead us on both ends of the court.”
Stokker collected 15 points while grabbing 15 boards to go with eight assists. Connor Oh had a very solid game on both ends. He also chipped in 11 points and scored some clutch buckets down the stretch. Grade 11s Riley Holt and Monty Tebbutt contributed 14 and 10 points. They finished the third quarter leading 49-48.
Men’s rec hockey
Stuart Nisbet’s hattrick led the Broncos to a 6-4 win over the Biscuits in Penticton Men’s Rec Hockey League play.
Also scoring for the Broncos was Andrew Pond with two and Tyler Ehlers. Scoring for the Biscuits was Steve Semenoff with two, Justin Martens and Jordan McCallum.
The Broncos also picked up an 8-5 win over the Hitmen. Pond netted a hattrick, while Eric Cerutti and Nisbet scored twice. Ehlers added one. Blain Ford scored twice for the Hitmen, while Michael Pond, Chris Arlidge and Jarret Warren scored.
The Game Time Sports Wolverines picked up a 10-6 win over the EcoDry Ice Dogs. Ryan MacMurchy, Sam Nigg and Derek Grimm scored twice for the Wolverines with Kam Crawford, Chad Parenteau, Dylan Burton and Matt Fraser getting one goal each. Scoring for the Ice Dogs were Mitch MacMillan, Mike Funk and Dustin Johnson.
The Biscuits rolled over the Ice Dogs with a 13-3 victory led by Rylan Sideroff’s four-goal performance. Also scoring for the Biscuits were Kenton Johnson, Semenoff and Dillon Duley with two goals. Rounding out the scoring was Andy McGinn, McCallum and Justin Martens. Scoring for the Ice Dogs were McClusky and Funk.
The Hitmen lead the league at 11-6-1, while the Broncos are second at 9-8-2.
Grenades hits century mark in dart league
The Hand Grenades hit the 100-point mark in week 17 of the Penticton and District Dart Association standings on Jan. 9. The Hand Grenades scored seven points to reach the mark. In second are the Alley Brats sit in second with 90 points. They collected four on Monday. In third are the Smokin Aces with 88 points after scoring seven. Rounding out the top five are Elks 1 with 85 points and Clancy’s Snipers with 84 points.
Doug Belanger earned the men’s high score with 177 and high out with 153. Taking the women’s high score was Karen Franz with 160 and Missy Kolbe the high out with 124. Ryan McKenzie hit a 180 three times, while John Veasey hit twice.
