The Osoyoos Coyotes extended their latest winning streak to six games as they swept a pair of weekend games against Summerland and Princeton.
After sweeping the Kelowna Chiefs the previous weekend in a home-and-home series – 4-0 in Kelowna and 4-3 on home ice – the Coyotes travelled to Summerland this past Friday night and came out on top 2-1 in a hard-fought, defensive battle.
They returned home Saturday night to face the Princeton Posse and emerged with a rather easy 5-0 victory.
The Coyotes now sport an impressive overall record of 35 wins, nine losses, one tie and one overtime loss, good enough for 72 points.
That leaves them with the second-best record in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
With six regular season games remaining, the Coyotes trail Kimberley Dynamiters by six points. However, Kimberley only has four games remaining.
If the Coyotes were to win all six of their remaining games, the Dynamiters would have to win three of their final four to grab the regular seasons points title.
The winning streak has officially clinched the Okanagan Division regular season title for the Coyotes and the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference title, meaning they would have home ice advantage in all playoff series unless they faced Kimberley in the league championship series.
Against Summerland, there was no scoring in the first period and no scoring until four minutes was left in the second period, when Colin Bell scored a power play goal to give the Coyotes the lead.
Summerland scored their only goal of the game, also on the power play, two minutes later.
Bell scored what turned out to be the game winning goal in the second minute of the third period.
Brett Soles was outstanding in the Coyotes’ net, stopping 26 of 27 shots.
Against Princeton, Carter Shannon, Hunter Johnson and Daniel Stone all scored in the first period as the Coyotes were never threatened.
Steele Anderson scored with seven seconds left in the second period to extend the lead to 4-0 and Evan Loura score late in the third period to round out the scoring. The Coyotes outshot the Posse 42-14.
The Coyotes will face a stiff test when they host the Beaver Valley Nitehawks Friday evening at the Sun Bowl Arena. Game time is 7:35 p.m.
The Coyotes will travel to Grand Forks to take on the Border Bruins Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
The Coyotes will play host to Princeton once again on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at the Sun Bowl Arena.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
