Last week’s ice capades featured three one goal games. Commencing with a road trip to the mountain mecca of Revelstoke on Tuesday January 25th. With earlier postponements and rescheduling a playoff type atmosphere has been created whereby these two teams seem to play each other every week. So, the well acquainted foes faced off at the Stoke Forum, with the Heat providing a surprising 1st period. 39 seconds in Jarod Sigouin from Dylan Handel and Owen Dean, followed at 1:02 by Jacob Biensch from Dean and Sigouin. At 6:45 power forward Trevor Kennedy unassisted cruised over the blueline into the goal crease blue and backhanded a beauty to make it 3-0 after 20 minutes. In the 2nd the Grizzlies scored a pair before Biensch from Handel and Sigouin got one back. Revelstoke popped in another and after 40 it’s 4-3 Chase. In the 3rd the Stoke squad pops another and at end of regulation it’s 4-4. Off to 3 on 3 sudden death overtime and no change, so the nerve wracking shootout at the Forum happens. 3 shooters each, Grizzlies fire 3 blanks and Biensch finishes things off with a bullseye 5-4 road win the result. Jack Osmond denies 53 of 57 bullets in net, Biensch shines with 2 goals plus the winner, Sigouin with a tally and a pair of assists and Dean picks up two helpers.
Game 2 and the Heat are living Willie Nelson as they are on the road again, Friday the 28th to a rodeo versus the Wranglers in 100 Mile House. No tallies in the 1st it’s off to the 2nd, Kennedy on the man advantage from Keegan Pittendreigh and Aiden Brown gets the sharp shooting event started, Diego Flota continues his inspired play from Brown with a 2nd marker, 100 Mile scores and then Garrett Martin helped by James Poole and Brayden Haskell displays markmanship. Kennedy again aided by Haskell and Flota adds to the lead prior to the Wranglers making it 4-2. In the 3rd the Wranglers make it a nail biter but the Heat prevail 4-3. Kennedy with a pair leads the accolades, with honourable mention to Flota and Haskell with a pair of helpers each. Rod May in the crease deflects 25 0f 28 shots fired his way.
Last but not least a home game on a special night at the Art Holding Memorial Arena. Saturday night the 29th features the now familiar Grizzlies wanting to settle a score with the Heat. In the opening 20 minutes Handel from Sigouin and Matthew Poole opens scoring, but Revelstoke ties it at 1-1. In the 2nd Tyson Mallet gets his 1st of the season after returning from Junior A in Ontario assisted by Ben Schmidt. Once again the lethal bears tie the game 2-2. In the final stanza the visitors take the lead but the resilient Heat will have none of that. Shorthanded Owen Dean corrals the puck in his end and takes off like a race horse headed for freedom. The big guy makes some big moves on his breakaway flipping the bisquit in the basket unassisted to tie the match in regulation. As in the past Tuesday contest nothing changes in overtime and it’s off to the shootout again. Revelstoke outfires Chase with a 4-3 victory, the week ending with each team winning a showdown at sunset. Osmond stood tall in net stopping 47 of 50 in regulation time, Dean having an excellent week displaying readiness for the pending playoffs.
On Saturday night the Heat made a presentation on behalf of the “Every Child Matters” initiative in November-December. The orange jersey auction garnered $5000 for the very worthy cause. Special guests Lynn Duckchief from Adams Lake, Chief Judy Wilson from Neskonlith and Jamie Tomma from Little Shuswap Lake bands were in attendance to receive the cheque as well as commemorative orange jerseys. Also recognized was the jersey sponsor Interfor Adams Lake Division represented by Darlene Bordin who also received a jersey in thanks.
What’s next you ask, just 4 games jam packed into the next week. Monday the 31st the Heat are in Sicamous versus the Eagles (hockeytv) and Tuesday, February 1st a home encounter against the Summerland Steam at 7:00 pm. Next weekend the boys are back in 100 Mile House to play both Friday and Saturday night (hockeytv). After that Saturday the 12th is the next home game versus Kamloops. So we conclude by looking forward to seeing you at the rink.
WILD WEST – Shootouts And a Rodeo
