The Kamloops Storm can air out their hockey gear now after having been knocked out of the playoffs Wednesday night in a 4-2 decision for the Sicamous Eagles.
Sicamous' Connor Buick put in the first marker of the evening late in the first frame, aided by Brendon Wilde and Jagger Bowles. Kamloops replied early in the second period, but about midway Brendan Devries was able to put Sicamous up one goal with help from Connor Fynn and Bowles. A power-play advantage late in the frame, however, gave the Storm the opportunity they needed to tie things up going into the third period.
Come the third period, however, the home advantage wasn't enough for the Storm to hold down the Eagles, whose tenacity was unshakeable – it was clear the team was determined they were not going home empty handed. At 12:46 in the third period, Bowles broke the tie with assistance from Buick. The winning marker came from Wilde at 6:23, with help from Buick and Bowles.
Kamloops' netminder Marcus Beesley was named the game's first star, while Sicamous goalie Kris Drott was named second, and Bowles third.
The win makes the Eagles the 2011-2012 KIJHL Doug Birks Division champions. They now move on to play the Kelowna Chiefs for the Okanagan-Shuswap Conference title.