World champion goalie (1955 Penticton Vees) Ivan McLelland prepares to drop the puck for the start of the Osoyoos Coyotes home opener against the Kamloops Storm last Saturday. At left is Coyote Daniel Stone facing off against the Storm’s Kole Comin. The Coyotes defeated the Storm 6-3, with five, third-period goals. The story of why McLelland turned down a contract offer to play in the Montreal Canadiens’ organization is featured in the new book called In the Moment: Real Life Stories of Hope & Inspiration. McLelland was signing copies of the book prior to and after the game on Saturday. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
It looks like the Osoyoos Coyotes have another powerhouse team.
Since returning to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) for the 2010-11 season, the Coyotes have iced quality hockey teams each and every season since.
After winning the league championship in the first season, the Coyotes have either won their division during the regular season or advanced to the conference finals in each of the past four seasons.
The Coyotes appear to be legitimate contenders once again for the 2016-17 season as they extended their winning streak to five games to open the new season with a pair of victories this past weekend.
Those wins including an overtime victory in Summerland against the Steam Friday night and a convincing 6-3 victory over the Kamloops Storm Saturday night in their home opener Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena.
The win in Summerland provided marginal payback for the Coyotes as they were eliminated by the Steam in the second round of the playoffs after having accumulated an incredible regular season record where they lost only nine times in regulation time during the 52-game schedule.
It was an impressive win for the Coyotes as they fell behind 2-0 after the first period and then allowed a third goal midway through the second period to fall behind 3-0.
Carter Shannon scored 20 seconds after the third Steam goal to close the gap to 3-1, however, Summerland restored their three-goal lead two minutes later.
Daniel Stone scored a power-play goal late in the second period to close the gap to 4-2, with assists from Judd Repole and Carter Shannon.
The Coyotes kept coming at the Steam in the third period and drew to within one goal as Austin Cleaver scored another power play marker early in the third period, with assists going to Brayden Durante and Jackson Glimpel.
The Coyotes tied things up at 4-4 with yet another power play goal by Carter Shannon, with assists from Stone and Repole, five minutes later.
There was no scoring in the final 13 minutes of the game, so overtime was needed to try and decide a winner.
Shannon was the hero as he scored his third goal of the contest two minutes into the extra period, with assists handed out to Colin Bell and Stone.
The game was chippy from the beginning as there was an endless stream of players heading to the penalty box throughout the contest and the Coyotes took advantage with three power play goals.
The third period was the charm against Kamloops in the home opener Saturday night as the Coyotes scored five of their six goals in the final frame.
After Stone opened the scoring in the first period, Kamloops scored a late goal with seconds left in the opening 20 minutes to tie things up and scored the only goal of the second period.
Evan Della-Paolera tied the game early the third, with Sam Reinbolt giving the Coyotes the lead two minutes later.
Jackson Glimpel extended the lead to 4-2 two minutes after that , before Kamloops scored a power play goal to narrow the margin to a single goal.
However, Colin Bell scored a power play goal of his own two minutes later to extend the lead to 5-3. Jackson Glimpel scored into an empty net with two minutes remaining to round out the scoring.
This game also featured plenty of stickwork and dirty play and a long line of players to the penalty box.
The Coyotes only play once this weekend as they host winless Sicamous Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
The Osoyoos Coyotes won a convincing 6-3 victory over the Kamloops Storm at their home opener on Saturday. This followed an overtime victory over Summerland on Friday. (Lyonel Doherty photo)
