It’s early in the regular season and the Heat is yo-yoing up and down the KIJHL standings and scoring race.
Coming into Friday, Sept. 23, the team was first in the division, with three players in the top five in scoring. By end of play, one player was left in the top five and the team was in third. Over the course of three hours, the league landscape changed.
Chase travelled down the number one to meet up with the Revelstoke Grizzlies at The Forum. Expectations were high, the cold and flu season struck, and those not left at home in bed limped through the contest. The result was a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Bears in their den.
A power-play tally halfway through the second period by Michael Fidanza got the Heat on the board, assisted by Mason Palaga and Kaden Black. Revelstoke got three unanswered goals by the period’s end, Dylan McNeil, Ullar Wiatzka on the power play and McNeil with his second. In the third, Josh Bourne scored on the power play from Palaga and Fidanza, before the Grizzlies popped in an empty-netter with two seconds left.
Back home on Saturday night, Sept. 24, in the comfy confines of the Art Holding Memorial Arena, a tale with a different ending played out. Three-hundred faithful fans watched the Heat fire 57 shots at the Sicamous Eagles goalie. Chapter 1 was a dull opener for the action seeker.
However, Kolten Moore banged in a counter from Travis Beaubien and Evan Hughes. Still awake, fans settled in for Chapter 2, the twig of Black assisted by Spencer Farstad and Pat Brady placed the biscuit in the basket. Then on the man advantage, Pat Brady from Farstad and Black made it 3-0.
Alas, the Heat feet came off the gas and Tyler Collens scored for the Eagles with two seconds left in the second.
At 1:33 into the third, Alex Astasiewicz adds to the intrigue, making it 3-2. Now everyone in the building is paying attention, riveted to the action. That’s when the Heat’s captain, Farstad came to the rescue, placing a rebound into the netting assisted by Zachary Fournier and Black. With less than a minute to go, Fournier insured a happy ending, getting an empty-net tally from Black and Farstad.
ICE CHIPS: Captain Farstad is ‘Whats Hot in the KI,’ with a goal and three assists in the win over the Eagles. Brady is fourth in KI with four goals and seven assists, Fidanza is sixth with four and six for 10 points and Moore is 18th with five and three.
The Heat moved back into first with the win, sixth in the 20 team KIJHL.
Next weekend, the boys battle the Wranglers from 100 Mile House, in the Cariboo Friday, and back at AHMA Saturday, Oct. 1 for some dancing and prancing.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the boys will be wearing pink jerseys.
