Dear editor:
After many years of being billet parents to members of the Summerland Steam, one would think that saying goodbye would be easy but it is far from that.
These young men (17 to 20 years old) come from all over Canada and sometimes the United States to represent Summerland in the Kootenay International Junior B Hockey League. Over the years, the fans, parents and billet parents have watched them play, develop, win and lose at the sport that they play for the love of the game. For these players, there is no compensation other than the appreciation of fans and the welcoming homes that billet families provide.
This year the Summerland Steam has some amazing twenty-year-old players leaving it: Matt Huber, goalie; Brogan Lautard, defence; Blake Holowaty, forward; Scott Robinson, forward and Sam Jones, defence.
There is little left to say about the excellent on-ice abilities of these five young athletes except thanks for the memories and we wish you all the best.
As to the other seventeen members of the Summerland Steam team. We hope to see you back here for the 2018-2019 KIJHL hockey season.
Marty and Linda Van Alphen
Summerland