Crisp cold air can do wonders for just about anyone, especially if a clear mind or two, three or 25 is needed. A frozen pond is somewhere out there in the vicinity, beckoning to host a bunch of fun loving shinny stars.
This past weekend the Chase Heat earned a point in the Division standings. Coming off a lengthy stretch of illness that ran rampant through the roster, the climb up the hill to more success is on route.
Friday the 25th found the locals hosting the Castlegar Rebels at the Art Holding Memorial Arena. In the 1st two wily old veterans sparked their team to an early lead. Aidan Brown tallied his 8th of the campaign from new guy Carter Price and Owen Dean. Shortly afterwards Captain Trevor Kennedy made it 2-0 with assistance from Cale Nahorney and Brown. In the 2nd period it was a reversal as the Rebels came back with a pair to notch the game at 2-2. In the 3rd Ryan Keylor from Braeden Huth regained the lead, but the foes scored to send things to overtime. Meyer Gaume got his first start in eons between the posts and provided his team with timely puck repelling. Diddly-squat happened in OT and the scene was set for a nerve wracking shootout. Suffice to write the visitors won and the Heat garnered a single digit in the standings for the regulation tie.
The following day the Heat rode a 52 passenger road rocket to the southern mecca of Summerland, home of the Steam. In the 1st the hosts went up by two, until Braeden Huth scored his 6th of the season aided by another new fella Riley Zdan. That was it for the Heat as the long ride home came on the heels of a 5-1 loss.
Next up the Heat travel to 100 Mile House on Wednesday the 30th. Kamloops is the destination on December 3rd and the next round in the battle of the Shuswap happens in Sicamous on Saturday the 4th. Close enough to travel to, local fans get a break to get ready for Christmas while the boys are on the road.
Getting back to pond hockey, perhaps it may be simple, crude or unsophisticated to suggest they go back to a rudimentary way of playing the game. The first step is to pack up some supplies, firewood, hot dogs, buns, marshmallows and hot chocolate. Frozen toes, lots of laughs and clear heads may be just what the doctor ordered. That just may be something for us all to mull over doing?
