Sunday 19 January 2014

LAUTARD PLAYS ENGINEER AS STEAM DOWN COYOTES

On Saturday night the Summerland Steam traveled to Osoyoos to take on the Coyotes in what was their biggest game of the season to date. With an 8 day break since their last game, it gave the Steam a chance to rest and heal some bumps and bruises before taking on the Coyotes on Saturday night. 

Paulsen Lautard, who missed the January 10th game due to injury, returned to the lineup in a big way for Summerland. He recorded a hat trick in the hockey game and led the offensive charge for the Steam as they picked up a 6-5 victory. Reid Brown, Gordon Walters, and Dylan Burton also scored for the Steam as they scored five times on 22 shots on Coyotes' starting goaltender Nathan Alalouf before he was relieved to start the third period by Coyotes' AP goaltender and 16 year old Penticton native Brandon Lockett. Lockett stopped 8 of 9 Steam shots, the only goal he allowed being the hat trick goal from Paulsen Lautard which stood as the game winner after the Coyotes made a late push to make the score 6-5.

Brett Huber was solid in the Summerland crease making 32 saves and picking up his 4th win in 5 games against the Coyotes. 

GAME RECAP

The scoring started early in this contest courtesy of Wyatt Trumbley just 3:49 into the hockey game. Assists on the goal went to Colten Braid and Cameron Dobransky, and the Coyotes had an early edge. It didn't take long for the Steam to even the score, however, as Paulsen Lautard buried one behind goaltender Nathan Alalouf on a powerplay just under 6 minutes later. That goal was assisted by Josh Dacosta and pulled the Steam even at 1-1. The period ended with the same score despite some good chances for Osoyoos on a powerplay after Steam newcomer Calvin Hadley took a cross-checking penalty late in the frame. 

The Steam took the lead early in the second period by once again scoring in bunches. Paulsen Lautard, Reid Brown, and Gordon Walters scored in a 4 minute and 30 second span early in the second period to turn a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 Steam lead. Penticton product Michael Crawford drew the Coyotes within 2 at the 4:34 mark of the period, before Dylan Burton added another Steam goal late in the second period that pushed the score to 5-2 heading to the third period. 

That would be all for Coyotes' goaltender Nathan Alalouf as he turned things over to Brandon Lockett to start the third period. The Coyotes started their comeback on a powerplay near the midway point of the third when a shot from Cameron Dobransky found it's way into the back of the net behind Brett Huber to bring the score to 5-3. Paulsen Lautard answered back, however, just 4 minutes later to complete his hat trick and restore the Steam's 3 goal lead. 

The Coyotes would push late, adding goals from Brock MacDonald and Brendan Smith in the final 2 minutes, but ultimately would come up short at the final buzzer. 

Jordan Boultbee had 2 assists in the game for the Steam, and Kienan Scott, Daylan Robertson, Olli Dickson, Sam Nigg, Josh Dacosta and Kendell Wilson also added an assist each to the score sheet. 

Dobransky led the way for the Coyotes with a goal and 2 assists, while Michael Crawford had a goal and an assist. Colten Braid, Brock McDonald, Brendan Smith, Luc Gradisar, Brock Anderson, Colin Chmelka, and Liam Neary also added assists for the Coyotes in the losing effort. 

WHAT IT ALL MEANS

The win for Summerland pushes them 3 points up on the Coyotes, who still maintain a game in hand advantage. It essentially guarantees the Steam one of four spots in the playoffs with 11 games remaining.

 The Coyotes will use that one game in hand on Sunday when they take to the ice to face the North Okanagan Knights at 1:35. The Steam will have 2 short days off before they travel to Kelowna to face the division leading Chiefs on Tuesday night. 

The Steam will return home on Friday night, January 24th when they host the Princeton Posse. It will be the first home game in 3 full weeks, so make sure to come out and support the boys and tell them how much you've missed them! 




Make sure you follow along with us on Facebook at the Summerland Junior B. Hockey Club, and on twitter at @SteamKIJHL and @Steam_Voice for all the roster updates and news to do with the boys!

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