The Chase Heat have three games remaining in the regular season, before they suit up for the high-flying world of KIJHL playoffs.
As in past seasons, the pecking order from one to three is anything but certain. The 100 Mile House Wranglers are currently number 1 at 70 points, one point up on the Kamloops Storm.
Chase is six points back of Kamloops at 63 points, with three games to go, but could climb into second spot if the hockey god is willing.
Last weekend, the Heat faced two unruly mobs and came out victorious in both battles. Friday night the 12th found the local squad in the Cheese Capital of Canada taking on the North Okanagan Knights. Nic Bruyere faced 25 shots, denying all but one to backstop the team to a win. This chippy scrum of a game tested the mettle of the Heat with the result being a 3-to-1 victory.
Tommy Brown popped one in from Mason Palaga and Michael Van Unen. Later in the 1st, Michael Fidanza scored from Rylan Van Unen and Brown. The only scoring in the 2nd came from the Armstrong Armed Forces.
In the 3rd, Travis Beaubien wrapped things up on the power play from Bradley Whitehead and Zachary Fournier.
On the 13th at the Art Holding Memorial Arena, the Kamloops Storm arrived bearing arms. There was no scoring in the 1st; however the fans got some entertainment from a Valentine’s Day eve heavyweight bout between Whitehead and the Storm’s Dallas Otto. Some 277 fans watched in the 2nd as the dipsy-doodling rubber-legged Pat Brady lasered one in from Beaubien and Ethan Buck. Three minutes later, Rylan Van Unen got his 1st of two on the night from Kolten Moore and Fidanza. In the 3rd, the assault continued with Fidanza from Michael Van Unen and Josh Bourne, then Fournier from Beaubien and Okino. The icing on the cake came on the power play with Rylan Van Unen’s 2nd from Moore and Bourne.
Daniel Toews between the red posts, was white hot, stopping all 24 to earn first-star honours in a 5-0 shutout, his first of the season.
Don’t miss the Eagles from Sicamous, on Thursday the 18th as a playoff tune-up.
Playoff Bound: The playoffs commence next week but the schedule is unknown.
What is certain is that there will be two games at AHMA versus the Storm or Wranglers. Wear something red, bring your favourite noise makers and buckle up as the thrills and chills will be in great abundance.
Let’s fill our ice palace and cheer the team on like never before!
