A storm is coming into Summerland tonight, the Kamloops Storm.
The Storm, 28-8-0-0-3 and winners of five of their last 10, visit the Summerland Arena, puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. The Steam have won three in a row and own the sixth best winning percentage in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League at .679 with a record of 19-9-0. At home, their mark is even better at .846 with 11 wins in 13 games.
It’s the second meeting between the teams, with Kamloops winning. The Storm come in as the best team in the Doug Birks Division and fifth best in the KIJHL. Their offence has been hot of late, especially acquisition Zackari Andrusiak picked up early last month. The 17-year-old former Tri-City Americans (WHL) and Vernon Vipers (BCHL) forward has 25 points (14 goals, 25 assists) in 11 games since joining the Storm on Nov. 13. Andrusiak has complemented Keaton Gordon (recently returned from the Yorkton Terriers of the SJHL), Dario Piva, Dante Raposo, Kole Comin and Wilson Northey well.
Between the pipes for the Steam, the tandem of Jake Mullen and Matt Huber have a .972. save percentage this month. While only allowing two goals in three games, the offence as scored 13 times. Leading point producer Jack Mills (17 goals, 22 assists) started with five points in his first three games, while Riley Pettitt continues to stay hot, carrying a 15-game point streak into Friday night’s action.
One area the Steam have been successful in is being disciplined. They have cut down their penalties and taken advantage of power-plays. Credit to improving the power-play largely due to new acquisition Josh Pilon from the Revelstoke Grizzlies. Since joining the Steam, Pilon has six assists in seven games.
-Written with files from the Trolley Talk blog.
