Rainer Glimpel scores in last season’s playoff action against the Kamloops Storm in this file photo. Glimpel has been named the captain of the Osoyoos Coyotes this season. The Coyotes hope to do better against the Storm this year, a team that knocked them out in the conference finals two years in a row. (Richard McGuire file photo)
For the past three seasons in a row, the Osoyoos Coyotes have come up just short of qualifying for the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) championship series.
Last year’s defeat at the hands of the Kamloops Storm – for the second-consecutive season – was particularly heartbreaking as the Coyotes were the heavy favourites after winning the league’s regular season title and having home-ice advantage in the conference finals.
After winning the first game on home ice by a lopsided score, the Coyotes faced adversity for the first time in several months and eventually ended up losing four-straight games to the Storm.
With the 2015-16 KIJHL regular season ready to kick off this coming weekend, head coach and general manager Ken Law and his player are again a confident bunch.
“I think we have everything in place to be at least as good, if not better, than last year,” said Law, who is heading into his sixth-straight season behind the Coyotes’ bench.
The Coyotes only lost eight of 52 regular season games in regulation time last year and won the league’s points title by close to 20 points.
While having a good regular season is important, the goal this year is to take another big step forward, win their conference and compete in the league championship series, said Law.
“We didn’t get to where we wanted to go last year,” said Law. “We had some unfortunate bounces and we just didn’t get the job done.
“We won the first game easily and I think too many of the kids thought it was going to be easy. Then Kamloops got some really good bounces and some outstanding goaltending and we had a few things not go our way for the first time all season. Before we knew it, the series and our season was over.”
The Coyotes will take on their archrival Princeton Posse in Saturday’s season opener up in Princeton, where they will face former assistant coach Geoff Goodman, who was named head coach and general manager in Princeton early this summer.
Law said he’s has been successful in recruiting some outstanding new talent to the Coyotes and he has no doubt his team will again contend for the league title.
“We should have a fast, skilled and even bigger team than we had last year,” said Law. “We still have to find some team chemistry and see who can play with who and which line combinations work the best, but our overall skill and talent level is really strong once again.”
Several core players from last year’s squad have moved on as Tyler Holz appears to have earned a spot with the Penticton Vees, while Brent Jewell has signed a card to play with Merritt in the BCHL, said Law.
Nolan Zweep remains in Prince George trying to earn a spot in the WHL and Blake Holowaty has signed on to play junior in Dryden, Ont.
Veteran goaltender Lawrence Langan was cut from a team in Kindersly, Sask. last week, but will continue looking for other junior teams to join and won’t be returning to Osoyoos, said Law.
That means Brett Soles will be the team’s starting goaltender and will be backed up by Adam Jones, 18, from Winnipeg.
“Brett is an outstanding goalie who played great for us last year and he’ll get the majority of the games as a 20-year-old,” said Law. “But Jones played AAA Midget in Winnipeg last year and is a great prospect and I expect he’s going to get into a number of big games as well.”
Rainer Glimpel, who finished in the top 10 in league scoring last year, will be the team captain, while Daniel Stone and Judd Repole will be assistant captains, said Law.
Glimpel is a quieter leader than last year’s co-captains Aaron Azevedo and Troy Maclise, but he leads by example and he’s proud to have been named captain, said Law.
“Our leadership group isn’t quite as loud or vocal as last year, but we’re just getting started and I expect that to change as the season moves along and they get comfortable as leaders,” he said.
New assistant coaches Thierry Martine and Carl Poole have fit in nicely and he’s looking forward to working with them all season, said Law.
Martine was the captain of the 2010-11 Coyotes squad that captured the KIJHL championship.
“Thierry is a young guy, but he really knows the game and he’s going to fit in well,” said Law. “Carl is a young guy who is willing to do anything I ask to improve as a coach. He has a lot to learn, but he’s got a great attitude and is a nice addition to our coaching staff.”
The Coyotes remain on the road next weekend as they visit Summerland to take on the Steam next Friday, before travelling to Fruitvale to take on the Beaver Valley Nitehawks the following night.
They won’t play their home opener against the Nelson Leafs until Saturday, Sept. 26.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
