The Summerland Steam are pleased to announce the acquisition of two Summerland Minor Hockey Alumni prior to the start of the 2018/19 season.
The Steam have acquired the playing rights to forward Linden Gove (’98) and defenseman Dawson Jenner (’98) from the Princeton Posse. In exchange, the Steam send Future Considerations to Princeton to complete the trade.
Gove, a 20-year old forward with two seasons of KIJHL experience, boasts speed and a heavy shot as well as a physical edge that some say the Steam were missing last season.
“Linden will be a big part of our hockey club and we’re very happy to have him,” said Steam Head Coach John Depourcq, “He’s got some KIJHL experience, he knows what it takes to play in this league, and that’s really going to help us out being that we’re going to have a real young team this year.”
Gove is a veteran of 98 KIJHL games over the past three seasons, all with the Princeton Posse. He’s recorded 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points in those 98 games, along with 153 penalty minutes. Ironically, should he suit up for the home opener in Summerland on September 7th, his 100th KIJHL regular season game played will come in Princeton when the Steam take on the Posse on September 8th.
The Steam also acquired 20-year old defender Dawson Jenner in the trade with Princeton. Jenner, also a Summerland native, has played 83 games over the past three seasons, all but two of which came with the Princeton Posse. He’s collected a goal and six assists in those 83 games, with all but one of those assists coming in the 2017/18 season.
In those 83 games he’s provided a steady presence on defense, bringing a physical edge and eating minutes when the team needs him the most. He’ll be counted upon to provide some leadership among a very young defense corps for the Summerland Steam in 2018/19, as well as line up on special teams and certain match-up situations.
“Dawson is one of those guys that you love to have on your team, because other teams hate to play against him,” Coach Depourcq said when asked of Jenner’s playing style, “He’s not afraid to get in corners and dig to win a battle, and he’s got the qualities that you like to see in a hard-nosed, minute eating defender. We’re excited to have both he and Linden come home to Summerland for their 20-year old season.”
Both are expected to be in attendance when the Steam take the ice for Main Camp August 25-26 at the Summerland Arena. They will also likely take part in some, if not all of Summerland’s exhibition schedule, which consists of three games in three different cities. The Steam will start their exhibition schedule August 28th in Vernon at Kal-Tire Place against the North Okanagan Knights. They’ll then host the Kelowna Chiefs August 31st at the Summerland Arena, and travel to face the Osoyoos Coyotes on September 1st at the Sun Bowl.
The Steam will start their regular season schedule on September 7th, at home against the Columbia Valley Rockies at 7:30pm presented by Nesters Market. You’ll be able to catch all the action with myself and Joel Barg on playfullscreen.com with pre-game beginning at 7:15pm.
Trolley Talk 