The Summerland Steam added two wins in Junior B hockey action on the weekend.
On Friday evening the Summerland Steam played host to the Columbia Valley Rockies, but were anything but kind to the visitors as the game ended in an 8-3 decision.
The Steam, after a hard week of practice, stepped up their level of play and vaulted to a 3-0 first period lead with some outstanding goaltending from Connor DeMelo and goals from Taylor Jordan, unassisted; Cooper Holick, assisted by Josh DaCosta; and Easton Bodeux, assisted by Piers Egan and Dylan Burton.
The onslaught continued in the second period with the Steam notching three more markers, while Columbia Valley countered with a lone goal mid way through the frame.
Brock McDonald, returning from a leg injury, tallied the first goal of the period, with assists drawn by Jordan Boultbee and Nelson Hurry.
A goaltending change by Columbia Valley seemed to kick start the Rockies. Just a few minutes after the switch, Dustin Boone scored an unassisted goal to make it 4-1.
However, the Steam roared back with a goal by Josh Spence just 41 seconds later.
Boultbee chalked up another assist on the marker, and team captain, Doug Chadwick, the other.
Then Taylor Jordan put the nail in Columbia’s coffin, scoring his second of the game, with just 18 seconds left in the second, to make the score 6-1. Holick and Egan drew the assists on his goal.
Brett Harris notched his first goal as a junior five minutes into the third period to give Summerland a commanding 7-1 lead, with Burton adding his second helper of the night and Derek Grimm collecting the other assist.
The two teams traded goals in the latter part of the frame, with Spence potting his second of the match.
Tallying on the play were Boultbee, his third assist of the night, and McDonald.
A late power play goal by Columbia was too little, too late as Summerland cruised to the team’s first victory of the season, winning convincingly by a final score of 8-3.
On Saturday evening Summerland was on the road for the first time this season, playing in Osoyoos against the Coyotes.
This was a tougher contest for them and one in which the team began to play more physically and to execute their systems with a more discipline and cohesiveness.
In a first period in which the Steam dominated the play, Taylor Jordan again led off the scoring with a minute to go in the period, assists going to Kendell Wilson and Josh DaCosta.
A barrage of penalties against the Steam in the second, leading to several two man advantages for the Coyotes, gave them the opportunity they needed to tie the game up mid way through the frame.
But the Steam, not to be deterred, responded with a power play marker themselves a little over a minute later, taking the lead back at 2-1.
Scoring on the play was Derek Grimm, with the helpers going to Chadwick and Harris.
Then, with a minute to go in the period, McDonald gave the Steam some breathing room with another power play goal. Jordan Boultbee and Easton Bodeux drew the assists on the play to give the Steam a welcome 3-1 lead heading into the third.
The Steam again dominated play in the third, with the Coyotes pressing hard to try and close the gap.
The Coyotes did add one early in the third to make the game a little more thrilling down the stretch.
However, the Steam did an excellent job of clogging up the middle and gave the Coyotes little opportunity.
DeMelo was outstanding again between the pipes, stopping 36 of 38 shots, many of which came during two five-on-three advantages during the second period.