Friday, December 10th versus the KIJHL league leading Osoyoos COYOTES, Rod May between the pipes displayed a 5 star performance to lead the HEAT to victory. The Salmon Arm Minor Hockey product withstood a 49 shot barrage to solidly backstop the “Every Child Matters” HEAT, to his second win in 3 days.
The edge of your seat contest featured the fleet feet of the desert dogs versus the newly discovered pace, pressure and passion of our hometown heroes. Captain Jacob Biensch once again lead his troop with a game opening tally from Lucas Ouellette and Brayden Haskell. The visitors scored twice but the man who carries the team on his shoulders, Brayden Haskell got the equalizer with help from Keegan Pittendreigh, 2-2 after 20 minutes. Lots of flash and dash but no additional scoring in the 2nd stanza. In the 3rd able Aiden Brown from Dylan Handel and Biensch provided the lead for the HEAT. With under a minute to go the Coyotes countered to send this match to overtime. Five minutes of OT and nothing changed, so shootout time, with fans so on the edge they dared gravity and the bruising consequences. However Rod “May Day” May was up for the challenge and once again denied the lethal artillery of the foes. Victory 4-3 and 2 very valuable points in the Standings.
Saturday the 11th found the locals riding the highway to face the Mountain Mecca Mad Bears in the Stoke. The Division leading Revelstoke Grizzlies who never hibernate because you can’t sleep in their raucous den with all the beer guzzling ski hill “Aussies” spilling and shrilling. Half the barn is beergarden and the extra entertainment is worth the price of admission. GRIZZLIES scored twice before Haskell from Garrett Martin made it 2-1 after 20 minutes. That was as close as it got as the hosts scored 3 times in the 2nd and twice in the 3rd to claim a 6-1 win. Jack Osmond in goal faced 54 attempts by the grizzled ones. Chase didn’t help their cause with too many trips to the sin bin, Revy going 50% on the powerplay.
The HEAT sit solidly in 3rd spot in the Doug Birks Division but a significant distance behind the GRIZZLIES and Kamloops STORM. Jacob Biensch is just outside the top ten in scoring, sitting at 11th with 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points.
Between this article and the next home game the boys bus to Princeton on Tuesday and Kelowna on Friday. Next home game at the Art Holding Memorial Arena is Saturday the 18th at 7:00 pm versus the STORM from Kamloops. Treat the kids as this is last game before the Merry and Happy break. On that note the HEAT players and entire organization wish you and your’s love, laughs and happiness during the festive season. The hottest product on cold ice – The HEAT!
May Day May Day
