The undermanned headed into the Christmas break on the upswing, edging the Okanagan-rival Summerland Steam 5-4 in KIJHL action Saturday at Rutland Arena.
Jason Village and Josh Kobelka paced the Âé¶¹AV attack with two goals and two assists apiece. Dakota Kittle added four assists, with Jaden McNulty scoring the other Chiefs goal.
Tanner Marshall stopped 32 shots in the °ä³ó¾±±ð´Ú²õ’ net for his 11th win of the season.
With Brett Witala and Brendan Mongey injured, and Brody Dale serving a suspension, the Chiefs were without three of their top offensive players and had just 15 ²õ°ì²¹³Ù±ð°ù²õ—i²Ô³¦±ô³Ü»å¾±²Ô²µ two ´¡±Ê²õ—o²Ô the roster Saturday against the Steam.
For a team that ³ó²¹²õ²Ô’t had its full lineup in tact since Nov. 1, head coach Jason Tansem is happy with the way the Chiefs have weathered the storm.
Âé¶¹AV (16-12-1-1) heads into the break solidly in third spot in the Okanagan Division.
“W±ð’r±ð set up pretty well going into the last part of the ²õ±ð²¹²õ´Ç²Ô,†said Tansem. “T³ó¾±²õ team has built itself up despite all the players coming in and out of the lineup.
â€Àá³Ù’s a tight group, ³Ù³ó±ð²â’r±ð bold and they play ³ó²¹°ù»å,†he added. â€Àá like where ·É±ð’r±ð at now and hopefully ·É±ð’l±ô be where we need to be come ¹ó±ð²ú°ù³Ü²¹°ù²â.â€
The Chiefs return to action Wednesday, Dec. 28 when they visit the Osoyoos Coyotes.