Troy Maclise got a breakaway for the Osoyoos Coyotes in the second period of Friday night’s game, but he was unable to score against Fernie goalie Jeff Orser. (Richard McGuire photo)
It was as though two different Osoyoos Coyotes teams played in consecutive home games this weekend.
In the first game on Friday night, the Coyotes suffered a 4-2 loss to the Fernie Ghostriders and were outplayed, especially in the third period.
They bounced back on Saturday night with a 7-0 victory over the Columbia Valley Rockies.
Fernie is the much stronger team of the two and has the second-best record in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) behind the Coyotes.
The Ghostriders hold the top spot in the Eddie Mountain Division with 46 points, second only in the league to the Coyotes, who have 51.
The Rockies are dead last in their division and second last in the league with only 14 points.
The turning point in Friday night’s game came just after the midway mark in the third period when Coyotes’ Brett Jewell took an interference penalty and less than a minute later Jackson DeMatos was nailed for tripping.
The Coyotes fought valiantly to fend off the five-on-three advantage for the Ghostriders, but with 22 seconds remaining in Jewell’s penalty, Sam Plaquin scored to give the Ghostriders a 3-2 lead.
The Ghostriders continued their power play, wearing down the Coyotes. Three seconds after the Coyotes returned to full strength, but before they found their legs again, Spencer Bender added a fourth goal for Fernie.
Having successfully killed another double penalty in the first period, the Coyotes looked worn out. Although they outshot the Ghostriders by a few shots in the first two periods, the Ghostriders dominated much of the third period.
Strong goaltending by Fernie goalie Jeff Orser also contributed to the Coyotes’ loss and Orser was named second star in the game. Several times the Coyotes had excellent scoring chances, but Orser fended them off.
Rory Neary and Colten Braid scored the Coyotes’ goals.
Neary scored just nine seconds into the first period. Braid tied the game 2-2 in the third period after Fernie got two goals in the second.
It was a very different story Saturday night against Columbia Valley.
As well as playing a weaker team, the Coyotes also switched goalies, putting Brett Soles in the net in place of Lawrence Langan. Soles earned first star recognition for his shutout.
The two teams were scoreless in the first period, but the second period was a Coyotes’ turkey shoot. By the end of the period, the Coyotes led 5-0.
Neary and Aaron Azevedo each scored two goals and Cody Allen scored one.
In the third period, DeMatos scored unassisted while the Coyotes were shorthanded. Brogan Lautard, a reserve defenceman playing his first game this season for the Coyotes, scored the final Coyotes’ goal.
The Coyotes spend next week on the road playing in Princeton this Friday, Kelowna on Saturday and Princeton again on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The Friday and Saturday games are in the evening and the Wednesday game is at noon.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Rainer Glimpel of the Osoyoos Coyotes tries to gain control of the puck in front of the Fernie net in Friday evening’s hockey game at the Sun Bowl Arena. Fernie beat Osoyoos 4-2. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rainer Glimpel of the Osoyoos Coyotes tries to gain control of the puck in front of the Fernie net in Friday evening’s hockey game at the Sun Bowl Arena. Fernie beat Osoyoos 4-2. (Richard McGuire photo)
Coyote captain Aaron Azevedo was in a good position to score in second period action, but he couldn’t gain control of the puck. (Richard McGuire photo)
Osoyoos Coyote Jackson DeMatos (right) tries to fire a shot at the net while Fernie Ghostrider Spencer Bender lunges forward to try to know away the puck. (Richard McGuire photo)
One of the linesmen steps between Coyote Captain Aaron Azevedo and a couple of Fernie players after a little shoving in Friday night’s game. There were no penalties in this incident, but Coyote Rory Neary and Ghostrider Doan Smith both picked up roughing penalties during another encounter with just 11 seconds left in the game. (Richard McGuire photo)
Coyote Troy Maclise fires a shot at the net in the third period of Friday night’s game while linemate Aaron Azevedo moves into position behind him. The Coyotes took 39 shots on goal, but only managed to connect on two as Fernie beat them 4-2. (Richard McGuire photo)
Coyote Rainer Glimpel breaks loose with the puck in the third period Friday night, but was unable to score. The Fernie Ghostriders beat the Coyotes 4-2. (Richard McGuire photo)
Coyote Troy Maclise advances down the ice with the puck in Friday night’s game against Fernie. The Ghostriders beat the Coyotes 4-2. (Richard McGuire photo)
First Brett Jewell was hit with a two-minute interference penalty past the midway point in the third period Friday. Less than a minute later, Jackson DeMatos was nailed for tripping. Playing two men short was costly for the Coyotes. First Sam Plaquin scored for Fernie to put the Ghostriders ahead 3-2. They then put the puck in the net again, but the goal was disallowed because the whistle had been blown. Three seconds after DeMatos returned to the ice, and before the Coyotes found their legs again, Spencer Bender made it 4-2 for Fernie. The Coyotes never recovered from these costly penalties. (Richard McGuire photo)
