The Kelowna Chiefs got an emotional win Friday night.

It was the first home game of the season at the Rutland Arena since the teamsa国际传媒檚 late owner Grant Sheridan died in late July. Sheridan, only 47 years old, was a big supporter of Rutlandsa国际传媒檚 team and the rest of the business community.

The Chiefs earned a 5-4 double overtime win against the Chase Heat, a fitting and joyous end to a game set up in memorial to Sheridan.

sa国际传媒淵ou could really tell it was a celebration of life,sa国际传媒� said Alex Draper, Chiefssa国际传媒� game operations manager and close friend to Sheridan.

sa国际传媒淲e obviously wanted to win the home-opener, but to win it like that on Grantsa国际传媒檚 night, you couldnsa国际传媒檛 even write it like that. With the game, the crowd and the celebration, it was the perfect storm.sa国际传媒�

Home-opener for nearly full. Rutland out in full force to remember Chiefssa国际传媒� late owner and community member, Grant Sheridan.

sa国际传媒� Mack Britton (@MackBrittonBC)

READ MORE: New faces, slate empowering Rockets ahead of season

READ MORE: Itsa国际传媒檚 playoffs or bust for Okanagan Sun with only 4 games remaining

The night started with introducing the 2019-2020 Chiefs, who were all wearing Sheridan jerseys in memorial to the late owner. In addition to Kelownasa国际传媒檚 jerseys, players from the entire Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) will be wearing GS stickers on their helmets throughout the year.

Pastor Don Richmond, alongside the Sheridan family, opened the game with a touching tribute.

sa国际传媒淗e loved his family, his community, he loved the Kelowna Chiefs, the players, the staff and you fans,sa国际传媒� said Richmond.

READ MORE: UBC Okanagan golf team starts season with historic win

In the victory, the Chiefs were led by forward Kayson Gallant, who scored three minutes into the home-opener and was the overtime hero. Gallant finished the night with three goals and one assist.

Myles Mattila and Zane Avery added the other two goals for the Chiefs, while returning netminder Braeden Mitchell made 43 saves.

In Double Overtime, seals the deal with his third goal of the game. Assists to and . Chiefs win!

sa国际传媒� KelownaChiefs (@KelownaChiefs)

It was standing room only by the time the puck-dropped Friday night, with nearly 1000 people in attendance. The Chiefs, coming off a record-breaking season last year, start the season 3-0 and look to continue last yearsa国际传媒檚 dominance where they lost only two regulation games.

The Rutland community was out in full force to support Sheridan and the team.

sa国际传媒淲e may be called the Kelowna Chiefs but make no mistake, this is Rutlandsa国际传媒檚 team,sa国际传媒� said Draper.

sa国际传媒淕rant and the family are loved by so many different facets of the community. It was an amazing night and wesa国际传媒檙e all still on cloud nine about it.sa国际传媒�

Kelowna continues their season at the Rutland Arena Saturday night.

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.

newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .