Players from the Summerland Steam pressure the Osoyoos Coyotes’ defence and goaltender during exhibition action Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena. The Coyotes open the 2014-15 KIJHL regular season Friday night in Armstrong. They host Chase Heat Saturday evening at the Sun Bowl Arena in their home opener. (Keith Lacey photo)
Let the meaningful games begin.
After two weeks of training camp, long practices and several exhibition games, the Osoyoos Coyotes are ready to step on the ice for the beginning of the 2014-15 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) this weekend.
The Coyotes begin the regular season Friday night in Armstrong against the North Okanagan Knights, the same team they defeated in five games to capture the division crown to advance to the league semi-finals.
The Coyotes lost that series in five games to the Kamloops Storm.
It was the second consecutive season that the Coyotes have captured their division in the playoffs and advanced to the league semi-finals.
The Coyotes kick off their home schedule Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena when they host the Chase Heat.
The Coyotes wrapped up their exhibition schedule this past weekend by playing to a 4-4 tie at home against the Summerland Steam Saturday evening and then defeating the Steam 4-2 in Summerland Sunday night.
Coyotes’ head coach and general manager Ken Law said he and his players are anxious to start the regular season and play games that count in the standings.
“The kids are excited to get going and play games that count,” he said. “We’ve been working hard in practice and exhibition games to get our systems down and now it’s time to step on the ice and see if all the hard work is going to pay off.”
With the exception of a home game on Wednesday, Sept. 24 against Kelowna, the Coyotes play all of their regular season games in September on the road.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing with a club that is going to feature as many as 12 rookies in the lineup, said Law.
“Being on the road is good in terms of bonding and building friendships,” he said. “The kids get the chance to travel together and stay in the same hotel and come together as a group.”
There are currently 26 players still on the roster and he will likely have to cut two or three more players before opening night, said Law.
Brett Jewell has returned and will provide some much-needed leadership after trying to earn a spot in the BCHL with Merritt, he said.
The team will have 10 returning veterans, but will have to rely heavily, as is usually the case in a developmental league like the KIJHL, on rookies, he said.
“We’re going to have a young club, but the kids we’ve brought in as rookies are skilled and they have size,” he said. “We’ll be looking to see what their compete level is like because you can’t just rely on skill once you get to this level.”
Lawrence Langan will get both starts in net as young prospect Levi Nelson is still trying to earn a spot in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with Canmore, said Law. Game time Saturday night is 7:30 p.m.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
