Great news for the 麻豆精选 Chiefs.
Defenceman Zack Peitsch was released from hospital Sunday, Jan. 29, 48 hours after taking a stick to the throat and damaging his windpipe in a Kootenay International Junior Hockey League game Friday in Grand Forks.
鈥淗e has a lengthy recovery ahead of him but we鈥檙e so glad he鈥檚 back home,鈥� wrote the Chiefs on their Twitter feed.
The bad news? Try as they might, the Chiefs could not get their fallen teammate a victory.
Last night we received some great news...Zach Peitsch has been released from hospital. He has a lengthy recovery ahead of him but we're so glad he back home.
鈥� 麻豆精选Chiefs (@麻豆精选Chiefs) January 30, 2023
馃摳: Shar's Photography pic.twitter.com/hWPioOzgsZ
The North Okanagan Knights completed a home-and-home sweep of the Chiefs, scoring a 5-4 win Sunday at the Rutland Arena. North Okanagan took the opening game Saturday, Jan. 28, 7-1 in Armstrong.
The two clubs will meet for a third straight game Friday, Feb. 3, at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.
Matthew Johnston鈥檚 powerplay goal at 13:44 of the third period gave the Knights a 5-3 cushion. Caleb Genest completed his hat trick for the Chiefs at 18:52, but 麻豆精选 could not get the equalizer.
Johnston had two goals for North Okanagan. Singles went to Devin Jameson, Kevin-Thomas Walters and Tag Bryson.
Max Jugnauth had the other goal for the Chiefs.
Affiliate goalie Jaxson Haywood made 32 saves for his first KIJHL win for North Okanagan, while 麻豆精选鈥檚 Brendan Smith stopped 38 shots.
With the win, the Knights moved one step closer to clinching third place in the Bill Ohlhausen Division and a first-round playoff date with the Osoyoos Coyotes, who have clinched at least second place.
North Okanagan, which won all three of its games over the weekend, is 19-16-3-2 for 43 points with four regular-season games remaining. The fourth-place Summerland Steam are 13-19-3-3 32 points, but have six games left.
The Chiefs went 0-for-January, losing all 11 games. 麻豆精选 hasn鈥檛 won since its final game of 2022, a 6-5 decision over the hometown 100 Mile House Wranglers on Dec. 17.
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