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Creston Valley Thunder Cats add two wins

The Creston Valley Thunder Cats added a 15th and 16th win to their season total on the weekend...

The Creston Valley Thunder Cats added the 15th and 16th wins to their season total on the weekend, beating both the Sicamous Eagles and the Golden Rockets.

On Friday, the Eagles visited the Thunder Cats, who were looking for revenge following a Nov. 27 3-1 loss.

The Thunder Cats had a strong start, with goals by Darcy Flaherty, Brandon Formosa and Trevor LeBlanc giving them a 3-1 lead by the end of the first period. In the second period, a single Eagles goal was sandwiched between goals by Thunder Cats Scott Swiston and Fabbri (power play), and Formosa and Trevor Hanna scored the game’s final goals in the third period.

While Heaven acknowledged the efforts of the game’s scorers, he was also pleased with the work of Collins, who earned the first star position for four assists.

“He created so many opportunities offensively for us,” said Heaven. “He made his linemates look really great in that game.”

Hails was the game’s third star, after blocking 36 Eagles shots.

“He gave us the opportunity to win and that’s what I look for from these guys,” Heaven said.

Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Golden Rockets began with a scoreless first period, which Heaven attributed to the five-hour bus ride to Golden.

“We came out a little bit flat in first period, but we were able to gets our legs underneath us, especially in the next 40 minutes,” said Heaven. “We had to keep it simple and just play a good road game.”

Formosa started the game’s scoring with a goal early in the second period, allowing the Thunder Cats to enter the third period with a 1-0 lead. A power play early in the third period allowed the Rockets to score their first goal, adding their second on a power play with 3:38 left.

Heaven chose to pull Hails, an attempt to even the score that paid off.

“Dane Birks got a great goal to tie the game for us,” Heaven said. “Getting scored on with four minutes left in game to tie the game can be very defeating and deflating.”

Just over two minutes into overtime, a “great end-to-end rush play from Trevor LeBlanc” secured Creston’s win.

The Thunder Cats’ four points over the three games brought their total to 35, nine behind the Kimberley Dynamiters and Fernie Ghostriders, currently tied with 44 points. The Golden Rockets are behind the Thunder Cats with 29 points, and the Rockies bring up the rear with five.

This weekend, the Thunder Cats host the Dynamiters on Friday, and then visit the Dynamiters on Saturday.

“We’re definitely looking to come out and bring out our best effort,” said Heaven. “We’re definitely starting to turn a corner, and hopefully we’re in a position to develop and grow and push for the division on the backside of Christmas break.”