This article is not a harlequin romance, it’s regarding 200 ft of ice and what happened last weekend on it. The time period was “Family Weekend” which was also Thanksgiving, and while we have so much to be thankful for, the Heat players and organization are most thankful. In between, a Friday night 60 minutes and a Sunday matinee of 60 minutes plus, a golf tournament occurred. The golf tournament took place at Sunshore and held 130 attendees under a picturesque day, unlike the two hockey games.
Friday night the 7th and the Princeton Posse galloped into Chase. They watered their horses and then suited up for a night on the town. The music started and the ice gambling began. First winner of the night was the Heat’s Carter Spring assisted by Owen Dean and Parker Garries. Spring is newly arrived from a trade with the Kimberly Dynamiters, and off to a great new beginning. The Posse tie it up and after 1 it’s 1-1. The second newest player in trade Maddex Bignell pots a tally with aide from Trevor Kennedy and Aiden Brown. But the dance hall doctors from Princeton tie it up, after 40 minutes it’s 2-2. Along comes the jackpot round, the final 20 minutes and the Posse get 2 for a 4-2 win and a ride into the darkness home. Princeton fired 45 shots at Roderic May in the crease who stopped 42, for that he deserves star recognition for keeping his team in the game.
Sunday the 9th The Beaver Valley Nitehawks swooped into Chase on their 3rd leg through the Doug Birks Division. Two wins under their belt they were looking for number 3, the Heat were looking for number 1. Once again the puck drops and Braeden Huth (who gives a hoot, he does) of the Heat strikes first assisted by Garrett Martin. The story remains the same as the visitors tie it up 1-1 after 1. Rookie Josh Gagnon gets his first of the year from Malachi Franklin and Kennedy, but the foes strike back, 2-2 after 2. Tied late in the 3rd the Nitehawks score, however on this day and time the Heat respond, Brown from Franklin and Cale Nahorney with 18 seconds left. It ain’t over till all the turkey is eaten on this weekend and so off to overtime where nothing changes. It’s now dessert time or a shootout! Brown counts on his chance and no other player equals that, so the Heat win 4-3 and get 2 valuable points. Meyer Gaume stymies 43 of 46 shots in regulation plus 3 in the shootout to star and give his team the win. The defence on this day played to the level we know they can. Honourable mention as a stand out was proboscis mended Aiden Brown with the tieing goal and the winner.
What’s coming up, next Friday the 14th the North Okanagan Knights ride into town for a 7:00 pm faceoff at our Art Holding Memorial Arena. The following night the 15th a rematch between the two happens in Armstrong at 7:15 pm. The Heat face another challenging weekend. Be there to cheer them on while enjoying a thirst quencher and some non diet fries.
