Rainer Glimpel got a breakaway late in the second period of Wednesday night’s game against Kamloops, but at first goalie Jacob Mullen stopped the puck. Seconds later Glimpel flipped the loose puck into the net. The opening game of the KIJHL semi-final ended in a 7-2 victory for the Coyotes. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes humiliated their archrivals, the Kamloops Storm, 7-2 Wednesday night in the opening game of the league’s semi-finals.
The Coyotes are seeking revenge for last year’s defeat by the Storm in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) semi-finals.
By the midway point in the first period, the Coyotes led 3-0, even though in the first period Kamloops actually outshot Osoyoos 14-9.
Although Kamloops managed a power play goal late in the first period, things never really got better for the visiting team.
Kamloops goalie Jacob Mullen was replaced at the end of the second period not long after he allowed an embarrassing goal by Coyotes’ Rainer Glimpel, the fifth Coyotes’ goal of the game. (see photos)
Late in the second period, Glimpel got a breakaway and was at first thwarted by Mullen. Mullen, however, lost the puck, which drifted loose in front of the net , and Glimpel turned back and two seconds later knocked it in. A defeated Mullen just lay face-down on the ice grieving for a while after the goal.
Backup goalie Bailey De Palma didn’t do a lot better in the final period, still allowing two power play goals in a period where the Coyotes outshot the Storm 14-6.
Glimpel, who was chosen the game’s first star, scored two goals and picked up two assists for a four-point game total.
Early in the first period, Jackson DeMatos scored assisted by Glimpel.
Just over two minutes later, Glimpel scored his first of two goals, assisted by DeMatos and Brett Jewell.
Less than three minutes later, Troy Maclise scored, assisted by Aaron Azevedo and Jewell.
In the second period, Maclise got his second goal of the game assisted by Jewell and Ryan Roseboom.
The Storm managed an unassisted goal nearly six minutes into the third period, but that was their only respite.
With 8:28 remaining in the third period, Ian Chrystal of the Storm took a five-minute slashing penalty and Cole Merrick got a game misconduct. Twenty-nine seconds later, Marc Dumont got a five-minute penalty for head contact and a game misconduct.
The Coyotes took advantage to score two power-play goals, the first by Colten Braid from Colin Bell and Roseboom and the second by Judd Repole from Glimpel and Nolan Zweep.
The two teams face each other again Thursday night at the Sun Bowl Arena with the game starting at 8:05 p.m.
This weekend the two teams will battle it out in Kamloops on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
If fifth and sixth games are necessary, they will be held next Tuesday in Osoyoos and Wednesday in Kamloops, respectively.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
At first Kamloops goalie Jacob Mullen stopped a breakaway by Coyote Rainer Glimpel. Seconds later, however, Glimpel flipped the loose puck into the net to make it 5-1. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rainer Glimpel was foiled in a breakaway at first by Kamloops goalie Jacob Mullen, but a couple seconds later he returned to flip the loose puck into the net. (Richard McGuire photo)
The stages of grief: Kamloops Storm goalie Jacob Mullen lies on the ice, for a while, apparently sobbing, after allowing a goal by Coyote Rainer Glimpel just seconds after he stopped Glimpel on a breakaway. This goal, with just two minutes left in the second period, made it 5-1 for the Coyotes. Mullen was replaced by backup goalie Bailey De Palma for the final period and the opening game of the series ended in a 7-2 win for the Coyotes. (Richard McGuire photo)
