Steam finally finish off Chiefs in Game 7 thriller
The Summerland Steam finished 27 points ahead of the Kelowna Chiefs during the regular season, but it was infinitely closer when the teams met in the first round of the KIJHL playoffs.
Wyatt Gale’s goal 7:43 into the third period proved to be the winner and Matthew Huber was superb with 30 saves as the Steam held off the Chiefs 2-1 on Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton to win the best-of-seven series 4-3.
Gale’s goal gave the Steam a 2-0 lead, but Kelowna’s Jason Village scored with 7:22 to play to set up a dramatic finish.
Morey Babakaiff scored with 19 seconds left in the first period. The Steam managed to nurse the lead despite taking four straight penalties and getting outshot 14-4 in the second period.
Brandon Gaucher, who blanked the Steam in Game 6 Friday at the Rutland Arena, made 19 saves but was rarely tested in the final 40 minutes as the Chiefs pushed to tie the game.
The game was played in Penticton instead of Summerland due to major repairs being done to Summerland’s municipal water-supply system on the weekend.
The game attracted considerably more fans at the SOEC, with attendance estimated at around 600. The Steam usually attract about 150 fans to home games at the Summerland Arena.
The Steam will now face South Okanagan rivals Osoyoos Coyotes in a rematch of the Okanagan Division final series that Summerland won 4-2 last season. The series will start either Monday or Tuesday at the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos.
Osoyoos will be well rested after sweeping North Okanagan Knights 4-0 in the first round.
The other three division finals have Kamloops playing Chase, Nelson versus Beaver Valley and Kimberley taking on Creston Valley.