Ta Dum. Silence and tears from the players, staff and fans in attendance at McArthur Island Arena in Kamloops as game 7 concluded. The End, as quick as that, in an intense, tight, skilled 7 game battle that went into a 3rd overtime period before a victor was declared with a sudden death goal. Approximately half of the 624 in attendance were stunned, the others roaring with glee. They say it’s just a game, and it is, but for the players on both teams it is a moment in time that they will remember all of their live’s.
After the Heat scored a disallowed goal, the Storm scored the only tally that counted in the 1st period. The Chase crew pulled even in the 2nd with a counter by Lucas Ouellette from Aiden Brown and Tanner Chapman. Both goals were scored on powerplays, it was that close that tight. No scoring in the 3rd period, no scoring in the 1st overtime a 10 minute period after which the teams got a between period break. In the 2nd overtime period no scoring and tired legs were showing as if the ice was 8 inches of gooey mud. Another break between periods and the conclusion came 7 minutes and 14 seconds into the 3rd overtime, Kamloops scores and takes the series. Jack Osmond the stellar goalie who backstopped the Heat in all 7 games faced an incomprehensible 60 shots and only 2 got by him, star, star, star.
During the Regular season the 8 games in which they faced each other ended up 4 wins apiece for each team. In the playoffs Chase won the 1st game, then lost the next three, putting them in a deep hole to recover from. They did, they won game 5 and then game 6, setting the table for an all the marbles game 7. Going into game 7 both teams had scored a total of 15 goals apiece. It was that close.
The End
