The Summerland Steam won the playoffs against the Kelowna Chiefs with a seventh-game victory on home ice on Saturday evening.
Throughout the series, co-owner and general manager Gregg Wilson had noted the team’s refusal to give up.
This level of perseverance resulted in an 7-6 overtime win on Thursday in Summerland. Thursday’s game at the Summerland Arena saw the Steam recover from a four-goal disadvantage to defeat the Chiefs in overtime.
“It was hard work by the boys,” said Gregg Wilson, co-owner and general manager of the team. “They didn’t quit.”
Kelowna dominated the first period with three consecutive goals.
At 15:42, the Chiefs scored on a power play to take the lead. Two more goals in rapid succession came later, with a power play at 7:54 and another goal at 7:43.
The Steam’s first goal of the game came at 7:09 when Paulsen Lautard scored, assisted by Daylan Robertson.
In the second period, the Chiefs added a power play goal at 17:26 and a power play at 8:36.
Near the end of the period, the Steam began to make a comeback.
Cole Woodliffe scored unassisted at 2:08 and Riley Pettitt, assisted by Jarrett Malchow and Wyatt Gale, scored at 1:06.
In the third period, the Steam continued to close the gap.
Braden Eliuk scored on a power play at 11:12, assisted by Lathan McKinney and Adam Jones.
Tyson Klingspohn tied the game with a goal at 10:16, assisted by Woodliffe and Lautard.
The Steam took the lead at 5:09 with a goal by Kendell Wilson, assisted by Eliuk and McKinney.
Then, with six seconds remaining in the third period, a Kelowna goal forced the game into overtime.
In the second overtime period, Woodliffe scored at 17:35, assisted by Robertson.
The Steam and Osoyoos Coyotes will now meet Monday and Tuesday at the Osoyoos Sunbowl. Both games start at 7:35 p.m.
With files from the Summerland Review.
