In a fast-paced, back and forth game, Aiden Morcom was the hero for the Kelowna Chiefs as they beat the Revelstoke Grizzlies 6-5 in overtime on Friday, Feb. 21.
One of the best teams in the KIJHL, the Grizzlies couldn't have got off to a better start as Jake Neufeld scored his 18th goal of the season just 18 seconds into the game. Kuy Schmirler assisted on the goal.
But the rest of the period belonged to Kelowna as they got goals from Murphy Jensen (6), Owen Ivanov (13), and Owen Miller (17) to lead 3-1 after the first period. Steve Andrusiak, Jake Kessler, Matt Saretsky, Brogan Wood, and Chase Gutor all collected assists.
The start of the second period was almost a repeat of the first as Neufeld scored his second goal of the contest 50 seconds into the frame to cut the deficit. Kesler Fyfe and Austin Wooley assisted the marker.
And just 50 seconds later, Dayton Abbott potted his ninth of the campaign for the Grizzlies to tie the game. Hunter Shaw and Wooley collected the assists.
At the 5:09 mark, the Chiefs regained the lead when Jonah Kaiser scored shorthanded, his fifth of the year, assisted by Kaiden Sydenham.
But Revelstoke would tie the game once again when Jett Patola ripped home his 14th of the season.
Tied 4-4 in the third period, Kelowna took the lead once again thanks to Kaiser, who put home his second goal of the game. Matt Fraser and Sam Del Cin made the play that Kaiser finished.
Less than two minutes later, the Grizzlies' Jake Phillips-Watts scored a shorthanded goal to knot the game once again.
The game headed to overtime where just 1:18 in, Morcom netted his 21st of the season to give the Chiefs their 18th win of the season.
Kelowna's Michael Makowsky made 33 saves in the win while Ryder Ponto stopped 24 shots in the loss.
The Chiefs return home to play their last game of the season on Saturday night against the Sicamous Eagles. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Rutland Arena.
For the Grizzlies, they finish the regular season on Saturday night against the Merritt Centennials, also a 7 p.m. puck drop.
