After their nine-game winning streak was snapped last weekend, the Summerland Steam got back on track with a 4-0 victory at home against the North Okanagan Knights.
Adam Jones and Matthew Monk set up Cole Williams' ninth goal of the season to put the Steam up 1-0 at 8:27 of the first period. There was no more scoring until nearly four minutes into the third when Riley Pettitt capitalized on the power-play for his 10th of the season. Leading scorer Jack Mills then gave the Steam a 3-0 advantage at 8:27 with his 17th tally. Pettitt was at it again, this time shorthanded for his 11th.
Steam coach John Depourcq said his team is playing great. Even in the loss to the Osoyoos Coyotes on the weekend, they had chances. DePourcq said his players answered the challenge they were given.
"We had tons of opportunities. We played strong," he said. "I was happy with the effort."
What DePourcq has liked about his team's play, which has them at 17-9-0, is it has been a team effort with great goaltending. Against the Knights, Matt Huber turned aside 24 shots for his fifth shutout in eight wins. The 18-year-old Calgary product has a 1.88 goals against average and .925 save percentage.
"We're solid defensively," said DePourcq. "Up front, we're starting to understand how we need to try and generate offence and play together as a team."
He's also been thrilled with 17-year-old acquisition Josh Pilon, who they picked up from Revelstoke on Nov. 14 for the playing rights of Cole Woodliffe and Tyson Klingspohn and future considerations.
"He's a big strong kid, that loves to play the game," the coach said. "He has a good offensive touch. He is a big (six-foot-one, 190-pounds) physical kid, too."
Playing alongside Mills and Paulsen Lautard, Pilon has five assists in five games. As a rookie last season, Pilon had 14 goals and 30 points in 49 games.
This weekend the Steam are in Princeton before returning home for a Saturday matinee against the Sicamous Eagles at 2 p.m.