Daelen Der scored his first of two goals Wednesday night against North Okanagan. The Coyotes went on to win the game 6-3. (Richard McGuire photo)

A 6-3 home-ice win over the North Okanagan Knights on Wednesday has propelled the Osoyoos Coyotes into third place in their division.

The Coyotes have been in a battle with Princeton for third place in the Okanagan Division of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

Osoyoos now has 20 points compared to 18 for the Princeton Posse, but Princeton has a game in hand.

Daelen Der, an 18-year-old rookie from Slave Lake, AB, had a strong game Wednesday scoring two of the Coyote goals and coming close a couple of other times.

Bryson Garska opened the scoring for Osoyoos seven minutes into the first period, assisted by Brandon Della Paolera and Peter Michailides.

But less than two minutes later the Knights tied the score while Milo Labonte was in the penalty box for slashing.

Late in the period, Der got his first goal of the game and the season on a power play, assisted by Ryan MacDonald and Coyote goalie Bailey Monteith.

Despite gaining a one-goal lead in the first period, the Coyotes were outplayed by the Knights, who outshot them 19-10. If not for some strong goaltending by Monteith, the score at the end of the first period could have been much worse for the undisciplined Coyotes.

But the Coyotes returned to the ice energized in the second period and less than two minutes in, Elijah Havers scored to make it 3-1. Tyler Badger and Bryson Rody got the assists.

A few minutes later, Der got his second goal of the game to make it 4-1. Chance Derickson, playing in his second game with the Yotes, and Brax Klassen got the assists.

At this point the frustrated Knights pulled goalie Austin Madge, replacing him with Caedon Bellmann.

In the third period, the two teams scored two goals each, but the Coyotes managed to control the puck, outshooting the Knights 15-8.

Alec McLeod scored unassisted for the Knights eight minutes into the third period while his team was shorthanded.

Less than two minutes later, Brock Marple made it 5-2 with Badger getting his second assist of the game.

Half a minute later, Michailides made it 6-2 on a power play goal. Garska and Marple assisted.

Finally, with just over three minutes remaining in the third period, Tyler Olsen scored for the Knights to end the game with a 6-3 win for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes are on the road for both their remaining games in November.

On Tuesday, Nov. 27 they play the nearly invincible Chiefs in Kelowna. The outcome of that game wasn’t known at press time.

Then they travel to 100 Mile House on Friday, Nov. 30 to face the Wranglers, who are in second place in the Doug Birks Division.

They kick off December hosting the Golden Rockets on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Sun Bowl Arena. The Rockets are in the middle of the pack in the Eddie Mountain Division.

With no easy Coyote wins coming up, Princeton could return to third place with wins in their upcoming five home ice games.

They host the Kamloops Storm tomorrow night (Friday, Nov. 23) and then play two games against the 100 Mile House Wranglers on Saturday and Sunday.

Finally, they play the Golden Rockets on Nov. 30 and the North Okanagan Knights on Dec. 1.

Princeton and Osoyoos will get a chance to reestablish their pecking order when the two teams face each other at the Sun Bowl Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 5.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times

Daelen Der (right) celebrates after putting the puck past North Okanagan goalie Austin Madge. Ryan MacDonald (left) got one of the assists. (Richard McGuire photo)

Coyotes celebrate a goal by Elijah Havers early in the second period of Wednesday’s game against North Okanagan. (Richard McGuire photo)

Daelen Der scores his second goal in Wednesday’s game to put the Coyotes ahead 4-1 early in the second period. (Richard McGuire photo)

Bailey Monteith makes a save as Coyote Daelen Der and Knight Tyler Olsen try to grab the puck. (Richard McGuire photo)