Coyote Ryan Roseboom flies through the air after tripping over Princeton player Craig Thompson’s stick, but Roseboom still managed to get his shot. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes claimed revenge against the Princeton Posse Sunday night, humiliating them 7-3 at the Sun Bowl Arena.
The victory follows a 4-2 loss to Princeton last Wednesday, one of only four losses this season as the Coyotes continue to hold top spot in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL).
In a game last Tuesday after last week’s Osoyoos Times went to press, the Coyotes beat the Kelowna Chiefs 2-1 at the Rutland Arena.
The Coyotes got off to a rough start on Sunday, ending the first period down 2-0.
Brett Soles replaced Lawrence Langan, who started the game in the Coyotes’ net. If Soles got off to a shaky start, he soon pulled up his socks.
Early in the second period, Blake Holowaty opened the scoring for the Coyotes and a little later Ryan Roseboom tied the game.
Less than two minutes later, Jackson Glimpel scored to give the Coyotes a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.
With a Princeton player off for four minutes for high-sticking, Jackson DeMatos scored on the power play to make it 4-2 for the Coyotes.
Princeton got its own power play goal late in the third period, but any chance of a comeback was dashed just 32 seconds later when Troy Maclise tipped in the puck from close range.
From there things went rapidly downhill for the Posse. Just 32 seconds later once again, Rainer Glimpel made it 6-3 for the Coyotes.
With 2:35 left on the clock, the Posse decided on a Hail Mary, pulling goalie Stephen Heslop for an extra attacker.
The move backfired when Colten Braid managed a shot from beyond the blue line, landing it in the empty net with a minute and a half left in the game.
It was a different story last Wednesday in Princeton.
DeMatos opened the scoring early in the first period, but in the second period Princeton scored two goals on power plays. Their second goal came with just three seconds left in the period.
Luc Gradisar scored for the Coyotes midway through the third period to tie the game 2-2, but less than two minutes later, Princeton again took the lead.
The Coyotes gambled and removed goalie Langan for an extra attacker, but with just eight seconds remaining, Kurtis Klinger of the Posse scored his second goal of the night, unassisted, on the empty net.
In last Tuesday’s 2-1 Coyote victory in Kelowna, Rainer Glimpel led off the scoring near the halfway mark in the first period.
The second period and most of the third were scoreless, but then with just over a minute remaining, Aaron Azevedo made it 2-0. Luc Gradisar picked up his second assist of the night.
The Chiefs pulled goalie Chris Turner in the final minute, allowing Kelowna to ruin Langan’s shutout with just 32 seconds left in the game.
The Chiefs were unable to pull the same trick twice and the game ended 2-1.
The Coyotes now lead the KIJHL with 20 wins, four losses and one overtime loss for a total of 41 points – well ahead of Eddie Mountain Division leaders the Fernie Ghostriders, who have 33 points and are second in the league.
The Coyotes face the North Okanagan Knights on Wednesday at the Sun Bowl. On Saturday they host the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. Both these home games start at 7:35 p.m.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Rainer Glimpel broke away to face Princeton goalie Stephen Heslop alone but he couldn’t score. Glimpel did get a goal later in the Coyotes’ 7-3 victory Sunday night. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rainer Glimpel broke away to face Princeton goalie Stephen Heslop alone but he couldn’t score. Glimpel did get a goal later in the Coyotes’ 7-3 victory Sunday night. (Richard McGuire photo)
Troy Maclise scores the Coyotes’ fifth goal late in the third period of Sunday’s 7-3 victory over the Princeton Posse. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rainer Glimpel scores the Coyotes’ sixth goal in Sunday night’s 7-3 victory over the Princeton Posse. (Richard McGuire photo)
Colten Braid fired a shot onto the empty net from past the blue line, but he skated up to make sure it went in. This seventh goal was the final humiliation of Princeton as the Coyotes took Sunday’s game 7-3. (Richard McGuire photo)
