After taking the first two games in the opening round against the Kelowna Chiefs in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoffs, the Summerland Steam ran out of steam, losing the next four.
The Chiefs took Game 3 6-1, then edged the Steam 1-0 in Game 5 and took Game 6 4-1. The Chiefs led 4-0 with the Steam's lone goal being scored into an empty net by Marshall Sidwell with 21 second left.
Steam coach John DePourcq said it was a difficult final game for his group after losing goalie Connor DeMelo to a concussion. They also lost Dylan Burton after three games and Brock McDonald after just two due to injuries. During the regular season Burton led the Steam with 51 points while McDonald had 13 in 31 games.
"I'm really proud of the boys," said DePourcq. "Playing one of the best teams in the league in Kelowna, not many would figure we would go six games. Kelowna has a solid team."
DePourcq said to get two wins to start the series was a good effort.
The Chiefs will now face the Osoyoos Coyotes in the second round starting Tuesday in Kelowna.
The Coyotes pushed aside the Princeton Posse in five games. After winning the first two games, the Posse won Game 3 4-0, then the Coyotes bounced back with a 4-3 overtime win. They doubled the Posse 6-3 to seal the series.
The Kamloops Storm were bounced from the playoffs in five games by the North Okanagan Knights. After taking Game 4, 1-0, the Knights finished them off 3-2 in the final game. The Sicamous Eagles downed the Revelstoke Grizzlies in five games. The Grizzlies won the first game of the series 2-1, but were then outscored 22-9 in the next four games.The Eagles and Knights began their series Monday at Armstrong's Nor-Val Centre. The Knights won 6-5 in overtime as Matty Saharchuk tallied the winner at 6:58.
In the Kootenay Conference, the Fernie Ghostriders needed six games to get past the Columbia Valley Rockies. The Ghostriders won the final game 6-3. They now face the Golden Rockets, who swept the Kimberley Dynamiters aside. The Dynamiters squandered a 3-1 lead to lose in overtime. The Rockets and Ghostriders begin their battle on Tuesday at Fernie Memorial Arena. The Castlegar Rebels needed double-overtime (3-2 final) to eliminate the Spokane Braves in four games. They will now face the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, who won three in a row against the Nelson Leafs to take their series in six. The Nitehawks won the final game 4-3. The Rebels and Nitehawks began their clash Monday at the Castlegar Complex and the Nitehawks stole the first game with a 3-2 win.