Wyatt Gale’s goal in the third period ended the Kelowna Chiefs playoff run and sent the Summerland Steam to the second round of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoffs to face the Osoyoos Coyotes.
The Steam beat the Chiefs in Game 7 on Saturday 2-1, with Steam netminder Matthew Huber earning the first star of the game for stopping 29 of 30 shots.
Calvin Rout got the Steam on the scoreboard first with 19 seconds remaining in the first period with a tip in past the Chiefs goalie Brandon Gaucher.
Huber kept the Steam rolling in the second period while facing three Chief powerplays. Gale’s goal just after the midway point of the third period put them up 2-0. The Chiefs lone goal came from Jason Village.
The Steam now play the Coyotes in the Okanagan Division final. During their eight regular season matchups the Steam won three, lost four in regulation time and one in overtime.
Game 1 is on Tuesday, March 7 at 7:35 p.m. at the Osoyoos Sun Bowl. Game 2 is played on March 8 at 7:35 p.m. in Osoyoos before moving to Summerland Arena on March 10 at 7:30 p.m. and March 11 at 7:55 p.m.