STEAM WIN FIRST LEG, WELCOME COYOTES' FOR BACK END OF HOME AND HOME

It took extra time, but the Summerland Steam got the W when they entered the Coyotes' den last night. The Steam came off the holiday break to play a home and home with the Coyotes, and in the first of the two games they were certainly in tough.

GAME RECAP - DECEMBER 28 @ OSOYOOS

After a very even first period that saw both goalies shine with 13 saves each, the period ended as it started, 0-0, heading to the second period. In the second period Colin Chmelka opened the scoring for the Coyotes before Steam captain Daylan Robertson tied the game just over a minute later. Dylan Burton also scored at the tail end of the second period on a powerplay to give the Steam a 2-1 lead heading to the third.

In the final frame the Steam held onto the lead until there were just six minutes to go in the game when Colin Chmelka put one past Steam goaltender Brett Huber to tie the game at 2. It also rounded out the scoring, which meant the Steam were off to overtime for the second game in a row.

It only took a little under a minute of extra time for the game to be decided, and it was Jordan Boultbee for the Steam who managed to slide one into the Coyotes' net, past goaltender Lawrence Langan. Although the boxscore has credited the goal to Riley Hunt, it was definitely Boultbee who sealed the deal for the Summerland Steam.

GAME PREVIEW - DECEMBER 29 VS. OSOYOOS

What needs to be said that hasn't been said already? These two teams don't like each other, plain and simple. They play each other extremely hard each and every time they meet and on the back end of a home and home series, that's not likely to change.

Former Coyote Darren Hogg gets the start for the Steam against his former club, while I would expect Nathan Alalouf would go for Osoyoos after Lawrence Langan played last night. The Steam will still be without forward Kendell Wilson, who began skating full speed on Friday and will look to return from a knee injury on January 3rd. They will most likely, however, get Reid Brown back into their lineup which adds even more scoring punch.

You're not going to want to miss this hockey game, as it will be a barn burner at the Summerland Arena. Puck drop is at 2PM and if you can't make it to the rink, we've got all the action on the KIJHL webcast with myself and Dave starting just before puck drop.