The goalies were the game stars in Saturday91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Kootenay International Junior Hockey League game in Armstrong.

Braeden Mitchell made 31 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Bill Ohlhausen Division-leading Kelowna Chiefs blanked the North Okanagan Knights 3-0 at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.

Sean Kanervisto gave the Knights a chance in the game as he finished with 38 saves.

After a scoreless first period, Liam Drager got the Kelowna game-winner at 14:33 of the middle frame.

Zane Avery, at 9:48 of the third, and Marshall Porteous into an empty net with 20 seconds left, added the Chiefs91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ insurance.

The Knights, losers of three straight, did manage a point Friday in a 3-2 double overtime loss at home to the fifth-place Osoyoos Coyotes on Teddy Bear Toss Night at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.

Defenceman Russel Borrett91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s first goal of the season 3:36 after the national anthem allowed the 280 fans in attendance to litter the ice with teddy bears and other stuffies for the Kindale Developmental Association.

Cole Haberlack91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s goal on a powerplay at 7:49 of the third gave North Okanagan a 2-1 lead before the Coyotes91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ Jordan Wood tied the game at 9:52.

Wood got the OT winner with 17 seconds left in the second overtime.

The Knights (9-15-0-4) have 22 points and sit in fourth place in the division, 11 up on Osoyoos (4-20-1-2) and six behind the third-place Summerland Steam (12-14-0-4). Kelowna leads the division at 20-5-1-0 for 41 points, 11 points ahead of the Princeton Posse (13-10-1-3).

North Okanagan hits the road to play the top two teams in the Kootenay Conference91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Eddie Mountain Division. The Knights play the Ghostriders (16-7-0-3) in Fernie Friday, then travel to Kimberley to play the league91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s best team, the Dynamiters (23-3-0-1), Saturday.

roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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