Coyote Bryson Rody slipped past the Storm’s Al Charlie, and tries to fire a shot as Charlie upends him. His efforts were thwarted. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes launched their regular season with a home-ice 4-2 victory over the Kamloops Storm on Saturday evening.
The young, new Coyote team dominated play throughout the game, outshooting Kamloops in every period, and always staying ahead in the scoring.
Bryson Garska, a 16-year-old local boy, scored two of the four Coyote goals, and as in the exhibition games, it was new players more than veterans who shone.
That said, veteran Carter Shannon scored one goal and came close a few more times. Returning players Levi Holz, Brock Marple and Nick Nordstrom also set up goals for some of the rookies.
The other Coyote goal was scored by Adam Rosen, a 20-year-old KIJHL rookie from Calgary.
The Coyotes opened the scoring late in the first period on Garska’s first goal. Brax Klassen and Rhys Lepine assisted.
Early in the second period, Rosen evaded the Kamloops defence and skated right in on goal, reaching over Kamloops goalie Jakob Drapeau to flip the puck into the net. Marple and Holz assisted.
Kamloops got onto the scoreboard six minutes into the second period on a goal by Al Charlie, but two minutes later Shannon scored to again give the Coyotes a two-goal lead at 3-1.
Late in the period, Chris Thon evaded the Osoyoos defence and skated in on Coyote goalie Daniel Paul to score the second Kamloops goal and narrow the gap.
In the final second of the third period, Garska added his second goal, assisted by Nordstrom, to make it 4-2. With no goals in the third period, that was the final score.
In the third period, Osoyoos outshot Kamloops 12-6. The period saw a few roughing penalties to both sides, and a few misconducts late in the period. Rosen was awarded a penalty shot but failed to score.
The Coyotes next face the Kelowna Chiefs Friday night at the Sun Bowl Arena, the first time they’ll face former Coyote Head Coach Ken Law since he left the team. Law was hired as Kelowna coach after his contract with the Coyotes wasn’t renewed in April.
The Coyotes then travel to 100 Mile House on Saturday night to face the Wranglers.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Adam Rosen leans over Kamloops goalie Jakob Drapeau to score the Coyotes’ second goal early in the second period Saturday. Josh Dimaulo (left) arrives too late to stop Rosen. (Richard McGuire photo)
Adam Rosen celebrates as he skates away after scoring the Coyotes’ second goal against Kamloops. Goalie Jakob Drapeau and Kamloops players Tison Young and Josh Dimaulo don’t look pleased. (Richard McGuire photo)
Returning veteran Carter Shannon skates in on goal in the second period, but was unable to score. He manged to score a little later. (Richard McGuire photo)
Chris Thon of Kamloops leaps into the air as he embraces Al Charlie, who scored the Storm’s first goal in the second period. Thon got a goal of his own a little later, but Kamloops was outplayed by the Coyotes, who defeated them 4-2. (Richard McGuire photo)
Coyote Bryson Rody slipped past the Storm’s Al Charlie, and tries to fire a shot as Charlie upends him. His efforts were thwarted. (Richard McGuire photo)
Chris Thon of Kamloops scored on a breakaway late in the second period to narrow the gap to 3-2 for Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire photo)
Bryson Garska does a dance of celebration after scoring his second goal of Saturday’s game in the final second of the second period. The goal put the Coyotes ahead 4-2. With no scoring in the third period, that was the fnal score. (Richard McGuire photo)
