STEAM ACQUIRE WELLS

Austin Wells
Photo: KIJHL.ca 

The Summerland Steam have acquired a veteran goaltender. On Thursday the Steam announced they've acquired the rights to former Castlegar Rebels and Fernie Ghostriders goaltender Austin Wells. Wells ('95) spent the 2014/15 KIJHL season with the Castlegar Rebels, posting a 3.01 GAA to go along with a 14-10 record and a .922 Sv% for the 2nd place team in the Neil Murdoch Division.

Wells, a native of Calgary, AB, joins the Steam and recent signee Matt Huber, also from Calgary, to form a goaltending tandem that on paper rivals any in the KIJHL. The two are reportedly familiar with one another, having spent time at the same training facility (Peak Power Sport Development - S.A.I.T.) in Calgary over the summer. Wells also does some additional development training with GDI based in Calgary in addition to his work at S.A.I.T.

The Steam will kick off exhibition action on Thursday, September 3rd in Kelowna against the Chiefs. They will then play Saturday, September 5th in Osoyoos before playing their only home exhibition game on Tuesday, September 8th against those same Osoyoos Coyotes. 

STEAM SIGN 2 FROM VERY SUCCESSFUL CAMP

After an extremely successful Main Camp on August 21, 22, and 23, the Summerland Steam are headed into the 2015/16 KIJHL season with high hopes. The indication from Head Coach John Depourcq and GM Gregg Wilson as well as Director of Player Personnel Mike Rigby is that the 2015/16 edition of the Summerland Steam will be deeper than the team that went to the Okanagan Division Final last season.

With a possible 14 returnees to the roster, the Steam lineup will be littered with veterans like Paulsen Lautard, Jack Mills, Adam Jones, Alex Williams, Braden Eliuk and the Yukon line (Malchow, Pettit, Gale), but there'll also be an injection of youth around the Summerland Arena. The Steam started the youth movement by making 2 signings out of training camp, including one familiar name.

Matt Huber
Photo via Twitter

That familiar name will likely not have to be taken off the #31 sweater worn last season by Goaltender Brett Huber, as his younger brother and fellow goaltender Matt Huber ('97) has joined the Steam for the 2015/16 KIJHL season. The younger Huber spent 2014/15 with the Calgary Flames Midget AAA program, while also suiting up for 2 games with the AJHL's Calgary Mustangs. In those 2 games, Huber posted a 2.31 GAA and a .944 Sv%.

Matt Monk
Photo via Twitter

In addition to Huber, the Steam also signed ('98) D Matt Monk for the 2015/16 Campaign. Monk, a native of Langley, spent time last season with the Valley West Hawks of the BC Major Midget League, posting 2 assists in 9GP. A mobile defenseman who skates well and thinks the game above average, Monk will be a big asset to add to an already solid defense corps. 

In addition to the 2 new signees and Michael McLean, who the Steam signed early in the offseason, the Steam will carry several additional players through exhibition season to continue the evaluation process.

The Steam will begin their Exhibition Schedule with a pre-season rivalry revival with the Kelowna Chiefs on September 3rd in Rutland. The Steam and the Chiefs played down to the final whistle in a first round playoff series in 2014/15 that saw Jack Mills score both goals in a 2-1 victory in Game 7 to send Summerland to the second round. That game will go at 7PM on September 3rd at the Rutland Arena. 

The Steam will also head to Osoyoos to play the Coyotes in exhibition action on September 5th, before hosting their one and only home exhibition game on Tuesday, September 8th at 7:30. 

STEAM SEEK HOST FAMILIES FOR 2015/16 SEASON

Kendell Wilson exiting the ice after a win during the 2014/15 KIJHL Season
Photo Credit:Sarah Mayer www.shotsbysarah.tumblr.com

As most of you are aware, and for those who aren't, the Summerland Arena is home to the Summerland Steam Junior Hockey Club of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. The KIJHL is comprised of 20 teams across 4 divisions with players ranging in age from 16 to 20. These players come from all over the Okanagan, BC, Alberta and beyond to pursue their dreams of taking hockey to the next level. 

The Summerland Steam enter the 2015/16 KIJHL season after a strong showing during the 2014/15 year. After a second place finish in the KIJHL’s Okanagan Division, the Steam are looking to build on their on-ice success in the coming year. To be successful on the ice the organization must be successful off the ice, and that success begins with our community. When players arrive to play in Summerland they become members of our community. They attend our schools, take jobs in local businesses, and play hockey in front of some of the best and loudest fans in the KIJHL. 

Becoming valued members of our community is something that our organization expects of the young men who are selected to play for your hometown team, and the organization is searching for host families for these players as they begin to arrive in our community.

The Summerland Steam are always looking for families who are interested in opening their doors and giving our players a home away from home during the season. Without host families the Steam would be hard pressed to succeed. Host families act as surrogate parents for the young men during the hockey season while the players are away from home. Becoming a host family can be a very exciting and rewarding experience for all those willing to open up their homes to dedicated players of the Steam organization.

Billet families will receive $500 a month, Complimentary season tickets for all family members and an invite to all team functions and ceremonies. To us you are that player’s second family, and by extension part of our family as well!

If becoming a host family, a volunteer, OR a Season Ticket Member is something that interests you, please contact Team Owner & GM Gregg at 250 462-0905 (greggwilson@summerlandsteam.com) or Director of Media & Marketing Tim Hogg at 250-809-1820 (timhogg@summerlandsteam.com) 

MCCALLUM TO JOIN COACHING STAFF

Jordan McCallum during his
time with the Steam in 2011/12
Photo Credit: KIJHL.ca

The Summerland Steam are proud to announce the addition of former player Jordan McCallum to the coaching staff for 2015/16.

McCallum, a Summerland native, joins the hometown team one year removed from finishing a 4 year junior career spent between the KIJHL, BCHL, and MJHL. McCallum spent 2010-11 with the Penticton Lakers before joining the Summerland Steam in their inaugural season in 2011/12.

During the 2011/12 season he led the team with 65 points (25G, 40A), a franchise record for a single season that still holds as we head into the 2015/16 campaign.

After his breakout season with his hometown team in the KIJHL, McCallum found a home just down the road in Penticton where he spent the 2012/13 season with the perrenial powerhouse Jr. A Vees. He then moved to the MJHL, joining the Winnipeg Blues for his final season in 2013/14.

McCallum will have a great opportunity during 2015/16 to work closely with 2 time defending Okanagan Division Coach of the Year John Depourcq and his staff. Depourcq and associate coach Wade Parker guided the Steam to a 2nd place finish in the KIJHL's Okanagan Division last season, leading to a 2nd round showdown with the Regular Season champion Osoyoos Coyotes. That series lasted 6 games, with the Steam ultimately falling short of their goal.

With up to 15 players eligible to return this season, the Steam will have a great team and what looks like an even better coaching staff when the 2015/16 KIJHL Season kicks off in Princeton on September 11th.