Osoyoos Coyote Seth Kriese blocks Kelowna Chief Mathew Alcorn during their match in Osoyoos on Saturday where the Coyotes suffered a 10-2 loss. (Vanessa Broadbent photo)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

Although ending last weekend with a win, the Osoyoos Coyotes weren’t able to carry the momentum and suffered two significant losses on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, the Coyotes travelled to take on the Summerland Steam, and despite outshooting their opposition (40-37), Osoyoos suffered a 5-1 loss.

Brock Marple started the game with a goal less than two minutes into the first period.

However, the team’s next two goals were disallowed which “took the wind right out of the guys,” coach Dean Maynard said.

“It was a tough loss for us and everyone watching the game. We practice hard all week long for a few people dictating what the end result will be.”

After two goals from the Steam, Osoyoos goalie Daniel Paul received a match penalty at the end of the first frame after a collision with Summerland’s Cody Swan, and both were ejected for the remainder of the game.

“It was pretty evident that Summerland’s strategy was to target Daniel Paul which in my mind is just out right disgraceful,” Maynard said.

Bailey Monteith took over the net and the Steam managed to get three shots by him before the night was over.

The next night was even more unkind to the Coyotes, when the Kelowna Chiefs knocked them down with a 10-2 loss on home ice.

With Paul serving his one-game suspension and several injured and ill players, the game started with a short bench, Maynard said.

Marple brought in the Coyotes’ two goals, but the team was never able to tie the score. One came halfway through the second frame, after Kelowna already had two on the scoreboard, and another eight minutes before game end, bringing the score to 8-2.

Kelowna sunk two more shots in the last three minutes.

“The systems implemented were working against a tough fully rostered Kelowna,” Maynard said. “The first half of the second period, we kept to our systems and the players were buying in. The last period and a half the players appeared to be deflated when we were only down by four goals going into the third.”

Monteith stopped 36 of the 46 shots against him, while the Coyotes finished with only 27 shots throughout the night.

The Coyotes kept their third-place division raking, but now sit only one point ahead of the Princeton Posse.

Meanwhile, both the Summerland Steam and the Kelowna Chiefs have claimed playoff spots, with Kelowna securing the division lead and breaking franchise records with wins and game points.

The team’s conditioning is not what it should be with only nine games remaining before playoffs, Maynard said.

“For the rest of the season players will be working on conditioning, confidence, systems and their overall attitudes.”

The Coyotes play again on Wednesday, when they face the North Okanagan Knights at Sun Bowl Arena at 7:35 p.m.

“This is a four-point game for us to distance ourselves from the Knights,” Maynard said. “I’m calling out all fans to come out and support these young talented players.”

Osoyoos Coyote Adam Diotte travels down the ice during the team’s match against the Kelowna Chiefs in Osoyoos on Saturday where the Coyotes suffered a 10-2 loss. (Vanessa Broadbent photo)

The Osoyoos Coyotes faced off against the Kelowna Chiefs on Saturday and suffered a 10-2 loss. (Vanessa Broadbent photo)