By Joshua Oggelsby
In their eight-year existence the Summerland Steam have only missed the playoffs once. That was in their inaugural season back in 2011-12.
Since then the Steam have clinched a playoff berth for seven consecutive seasons, including this year where they have locked the second place spot up in the Okanagan division.
In the inaugural season, the team finished with a record of 15 wins, 35 losses and two overtime losses. This record had them in last in their division and fourth last in the league, causing them to miss the playoffs.
The Steam improved in their second season with a record of 21 wins, 28 losses, one tie and five overtimes losses. This record gave them the fourth place spot in the division as well as the team’s first playoff berth in franchise history. However they ended up losing in the first round to the first place Kelowna Chiefs in six games.
In the 2013-14 season, the Steam improved tremendously and clinched first place in the Okanagan division with a record of 35 wins, 15 losses, one tie and three overtime losses. Once again however, the Steam were bounced in the first round in seven games by the North Okanagan Knights.
The next season saw the Steam finishing with a record of 28 wins, 19 losses, two ties and three overtime losses. Summerland finished in second in the Okanagan division.
The Steam won the first round of the playoffs against the Kelowna Chiefs in seven games. They moved on to the second round for the first time in franchise history and were matched up against the first place Osoyoos Coyotes in six games.
During the 2015-16 season, the Steam finished with a record of 34 wins, 16 losses, and two overtime losses.
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This gave them the second place spot in the division. The Steam built off the momentum from the previous season and made it all the way to the conference championship series against the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
The team was lead by Jack Mills, Braden Eliuk, and Paulson Lautard who lead the team in points throughout the playoffs. The Steam ended up losing to the Wranglers in five games and end their great playoff run and season.
Wanting to build off of that great playoff run from the previous season, the Steam finished with a record of 34 wins, nine losses, one tie and three overtime losses during the 2016-17 season.
The Steam had a tough first round matchup with the third place Kelowna Chiefs this series and ended up coming down to the wire in a even game series which the Steam won with a 2-1 victory in game seven.
Next, the Steam faced the first place Osoyoos Coyotes and ended up getting swept by them, ending the season in the second round once again.
Last season, the Steam finished with a record of 27 wins, 16 losses, one tie and three overtime losses. This had the team finishing in third in the Okanagan division.
This meant the Steam played the Kelowna Chiefs in the first round once again. This time however it was be the Chiefs who prevailed in the seven game series ending the Steam’s season.
This season, the Steam finished second in the regular season with a record of 25 wins, 20 losses, two ties and two overtime losses.
They will face the third-place Princeton Posse in the playoffs.
The best of seven playoff series began on Tuesday.
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