(File photo)
By Vanessa Broadbent
Osoyoos Times
A 4-1 loss to the Revelstoke Grizzlies on Friday night left the Osoyoos Coyotes clinging to the final playoff spot in the division.
The Coyotes (14-25-2-1) slipped to fourth place in their league division on Friday night, after the Princeton Posse claimed a win against the North Okanagan Knights and climbed the rankings.
With Revelstoke having only lost five games all season, head coach Dean Maynard said the team was prepared for a tough match.
“We knew going into this game that this was going to be a battle to the end.”
Goalie Bailey Monteith played what Maynard described as an “amazing game,” stopping 41 of 45 shots, while the Coyotes made 27 shots.
With scoreless first and third periods for both teams, all game points came in the second frame. Wyatt Wong brought in the Coyotes goal with 16:35 on the clock.
“I am proud of the guys’ overall play,” Maynard said. “They battled, had great attitudes and didn’t quit on each other.”
To maintain their fourth-place ranking and keep the final playoff spot, the Coyotes need wins this weekend when they face the North Okanagan Knights in Armstrong on Friday, and the Sicamous Eagles on home ice on Saturday.
With the Knights sitting only one point behind the Coyotes, the game is a “must win” for Osoyoos.
“The players are ready to work hard all week to have a successful four-point weekend,” Maynard said.
