Two teams of Osoyoos Coyote trainees held a scrimmage on Friday as part of their training camp. (Richard McGuire photo)
Even though he will be leading one of the youngest teams he’s coached in his five years in Osoyoos, Ken Law is confident the Osoyoos Coyotes are going to ice another strong contender for the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) championship this season.
Law, the head coach and general manager of the Coyotes, said he’s very pleased with the collection of players he has left on his roster following the 2014-15 training camp held this past Labour Day long weekend at the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos.
“We’re going to have a younger team than we’ve had the last couple of years, but every one of the younger guys I expect to be on the team are very skilled, they can skate and they’re big,” said Law. “I wanted to add some size and we’re significantly bigger on the back end than we were last year and we have a bunch of young kids up front who have great size, but they can skate and they’re skilled.”
Training camp started with 46 players last Thursday morning and Law cut the roster down to 28 on Sunday.
With several players from last year’s team still away at other tryout camps in the BCHL and other leagues, Law said he has until opening night of the KIJHL regular season on September 12 to cut the roster down to 23 or less players.
Returning veteran forwards Troy Maclise, Rainer Glimpel, Luc Gradisar and Jackson DeMatos give the Coyotes proven offensive firepower to begin the season and Law is confident several rookies will be able to contribute goals and assists throughout the season.
Last year’s starting goaltender Lawrence Langan is also back in Osoyoos and Law expects heralded rookie Levi Nelson, who is trying out for a spot in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, to be in Osoyoos before the regular season begins.
The Coyotes kicked off their exhibition season Sunday night at the Sun Bowl Arena with a victory over the Grand Forks Border Bruins. The Coyotes played in Grand Forks Tuesday night. Their exhibition schedule continues Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena as they host the Summerland Steam. They return to Summerland Sunday night to wrap up their exhibition schedule.
The regular season begins on Friday, Sept. 12 with a road game in Armstrong against the North Okanagan Knights. The Coyotes’ home opener is set for the following night on Saturday, Sept. 13 against Chase.
Law expects his young team to bond quickly as they play only two home games in September.
“We’re on the road for the first three weekends of the schedule, with only two home games in September and that should allow for a lot of team bonding,” he said. “I’m hoping we’ll get all our veteran guys back as soon as possible and they already have the chemistry and will be able to work with the young guys and bring the team together early in the season.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Two teams of Osoyoos Coyote trainees held a scrimmage on Friday as part of their training camp. (Richard McGuire photo)
Two teams of Osoyoos Coyote trainees held a scrimmage on Friday as part of their training camp. (Richard McGuire photo)
Two teams of Osoyoos Coyote trainees held a scrimmage on Friday as part of their training camp. (Richard McGuire photo)
