Ryan MacDonald (left) celebrates after scoring the game winner for the Coyotes in the second period of overtime Saturday. Bryson Garska, who assisted, skates away in the lower right. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes scored a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Columbia Valley Rockies Saturday night before hometown hockey fans.
The win, the second of the season for the struggling Coyotes, vaults them a point ahead of the North Okanagan Knights to put Osoyoos in fourth place in the Okanagan Division.
Ryan MacDonald scored the game winner with less than a minute and a half remaining in the second overtime period, firing a shot between the legs of Rockies goalie Ty Grant. Bryson Garska assisted.
The win followed two losses last week.
Last Tuesday the Coyotes lost 9-0 in Kelowna to the undefeated Chiefs, who are in the top spot in the entire Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL).
Then on Friday, the Coyotes were defeated 3-1 in Sicamous by the Eagles. Brock Marple scored the Yotes’ only goal in the third period on a power play. Peter Michailides assisted.
The win over Columbia Valley on Saturday was no small achievement. The Rockies are currently in the number two spot in the Eddie Mountain Division with nine wins in 13 games.
The first period saw the Coyotes outplayed with the Rockies scoring both goals, the first in the opening minute of the game. The Rockies outshot the Coyotes 17-8 in that period.
But the second period belonged to the Coyotes, who bounced back with two goals to tie the game at 2-2.
Michailides got the first Coyote goal with seven minutes remaining in the period. Mason Holz assisted.
Then, with less than half a minute remaining in the period, Seth Kriese scored on a power play, with Garska assisting.
The Coyotes outshot the Rockies 14-10 in the second period.
Early in the third period, Garska put the Coyotes ahead 3-2 on a power play goal. Michailides assisted.
The score remained at 3-2 for much of the third period. But with three minutes remaining, Bryson Rody took a high-sticking penalty, giving Columbia Valley the opportunity they needed to tie the game.
Just over a minute later, the Rockies’ Gavin Fleck scored on the power play to tie the game at 3-3 with less than two minutes remaining in the third period.
As the clock ticked down, the Coyotes had several opportunities, but neither team managed to score.
When MacDonald scored the game winner, Coyotes streamed onto the ice from the bench to celebrate the win with group hugs.
The Coyotes are on the road this weekend. They play the Braves in Spokane on Friday night and then travel to Princeton Saturday to play the Posse. Both teams are in the middle of the standings for their respective divisions.
Then on Tuesday, Oct. 30, Princeton visits the Sun Bowl Arena. Game time is 7:35 p.m.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Ryan MacDonald fires the puck between the legs of Columbia Valley goalie Ty Grant to score the game winner in the seond period of overtime on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Osoyoos Coyotes stream from the bench to celebrate a game-winning overtime goal by Ryan MacDonald in Saturday’s game against Columbia Valley. (Richard McGuire photo)
Coyotes celebrate with group hugs after winning an overtime victory over Columbia Valley on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Coyote Bryson Garska (at right with the puck) and Kale Hawryluk of the Rockies spray ice as they battle for the puck. (Richard McGuire photo)
