The Osoyoos Coyotes continue to play outstanding hockey as they picked up another pair of victories to remain as the top club in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) standings.
After whipping the North Okanagan Knights on home ice last Wednesday by a score of 8-1, the Coyotes scored an early goal Saturday night at home against the Creston Valley Thunder Cats and held on the rest of the way for an impressive 1-0 victory.
The pair of wins gives the Coyotes’ an impressive record of 22-4-1 and a firm grip on first place in the entire KIJHL as the season just passed the halfway mark.
Against North Okanagan, Coyotes’ co-captain Troy Maclise led the way as he scored three goals, including the only goal of the opening 20 minutes.
The Coyotes scored two power-play goals 11 seconds apart early in the second period to take full control of the contest. Colten Braid and co-captain Aaron Azevedo netted the goals.
Rory Neary extended the lead to 4-0 five minutes later, before the Knights scored their lone goal of the game late in the second period.
The Coyotes continued to dominate in the third period as they scored four unanswered goals.
Brett Jewell, Maclise and Rainer Glimpel scored goals to extend the lead to 7-1 before Maclise completed his hat trick with a shorthanded goal with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
Maclise was named the game’s first star for his efforts.
Goals were hard to come by against Creston Valley.
Jackson DeMatos, with assists from Brett Jewell and Joey Marcy, scored the game’s only goal early in the first period.
Coyotes’ goaltender Lawrence Langan played very well to earn the shutout as he stopped all 33 shots he faced.
The Coyotes have now scored 134 goals for and allowed only 68 against.
They are on pace to record 90 points, which is extremely impressive in a 52-game regular season schedule.
They hope to extend their latest winning streak with another pair of victories this weekend.
They play in Armstrong against North Okanagan on Friday night before returning home to host the Summerland Steam Saturday evening at the Sun Bowl Arena. Game time is 7:35 p.m.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
