Following a division semifinal win over the Kelowna Chiefs, the Summerland Steam are facing the Osoyoos Coyotes as Junior B hockey playoff action continues.
The Steam finished the regular season in second place in the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference: Okanagan Division, while Kelowna finished in third place.
Osoyoos is the top-ranked team in the division.
On March 1, the Steam won the best of seven division semifinal series, playing six games over eight days.
John DePourcq, coach of the Steam, said the series, ending in a shutout win for Summerland, represented a strong effort for the Steam.
“Discipline was a huge key,” he said. “Everybody put forward a good, solid effort.”
For the Steam the playoff season is following a pattern similar to last year.
A year ago, the Steam defeated the Chiefs in seven games and went on to face the Coyotes in the division finals.
However, DePourcq said the playoff series will not necessarily turn out the same as a year ago.
“Every year is different,” he said. “There are so many things that happen in a series.”
The Coyotes will be a tough team for the Steam.
The two teams met eight times in regular season play over the past year. Of those games, seven were Osoyoos wins.
“Osoyoos has a very talented team,” DePourcq said. “When you make a mistake on the ice, they’re going to take advantage of it.”
Despite the strength of the Osoyoos team, DePourcq is confident his players will be up for the challenge.
“We’re going to be ready to go,” he said before the playoff series began. “We’re in great shape.”
Full playoff coverage is available on this site as the games continue.
