Troy Maclise scores his first of three goals in Friday night’s victory by the Osoyoos Coyotes over the North Okanagan Knights. After coming from behind to tie the series at three games apiece with the win Friday night, the Coyotes went down to defeat in the seventh and deciding game Sunday in Armstrong. The Coyotes magnificent playoff run came up one game short of qualifying them for the KIJHL championship series. Photo by Richard McGuire.
When the players on the Osoyoos Coyotes get over the bitter disappointment of coming within one game of making the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) final, they are going to be able to reflect on an amazing playoff run that captured the hearts and minds of this entire community, says head coach and general manager Ken Law.
“They have an awful lot to be proud of,” said Law following Sunday night’s devastating 4-0 loss to the North Okanagan Knights.
After trailing the best-of-seven playoff series 3-1 following two lopsided losses on home ice early last week, most fans believed the Coyotes would bow out quietly against the Knights.
After winning game one of the series in convincing fashion by a score of 6-2, the Coyotes lost three consecutive games by a combined score of 15-2 before staging a remarkable rally.
Facing elimination, the resilient Coyotes marched into Armstrong last Thursday night and left with a hard-fought 3-1 victory.
Back on home ice Friday night, the Coyotes continued their excellent play and got an outstanding performance from Troy Maclise – who scored all three goals – to take game six 3-1 and force a seventh-and-deciding game in Armstrong Sunday night.
The Knights took advantage of a sold-out arena with more than 600 fans in attendance and scored two early goals and added another late in the first period to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
Despite numerous great scoring chances, the Coyotes could not beat goaltender Dustin Nikkel and the Knights scored a late goal to take the game 4-0 and advance to the KIJHL final, which started Tuesday night against the Castlegar Rebels.
This deciding game was much closer than the score indicated, said Law.
“It was one of those unfortunate situations where they jumped quickly out of the gate and got the jump on us and we never really recovered,” said Law. “Having home ice in game seven is always a huge boost to any hockey club and they took advantage of having a loud and boisterous crowd and they played very well early in the game and that was the difference.
“We had a lot of great chances in that first period to tie the game, but their goaltender was very sharp and made a number of huge saves for them. We just didn’t bury our chances and that was the series.”
After winning games five and six, his players went into Armstrong convinced they could complete the comeback, said Law.
“We’ve always been a team that doesn’t quit, even when we weren’t playing very well during our bad stretch about halfway through the year,” said Law. “Even when we were getting blown out during that stretch, the guys on this team never quit and that became the trademark of this team.”
To win two playoff series and come within one game of making the league finals is an amazing accomplishment for a team that will lose only three players – captain Garrett Kucher, Alex Grupe and power forward Brandon Watson – to graduation, said Law.
“There was a lot of emotion and a lot of tears in the dressing room following the loss because these guys poured their heart and soul into this playoff run, but Alex Grupe stood up and made a great speech about how far we had come as a team and how no one should bow their heads on this club,” said Law. “We did come just short of accomplishing our goal and winning a championship, but we had a tremendous playoff run and the guys should be very proud of what they accomplished.”
Recruiting for next year’s club has already begun, said Law.
“We lose those three 20-year-olds and we’ll probably lose a few more to Junior A, but we should have a very strong returning nucleus for next season,” he said. “We’re going to a tryout camp in Terrace this weekend, so we’re already beginning work for next year.”
The Coyotes are also holding a tryout camp for all midget-aged players and anyone else under age 20 who wants to try out from April 26-28 at the Sun Bowl Arena.
Players can register on the KIJHL or Osoyoos Coyotes websites.
The amount of community and fan support during the entire season and playoff run was incredible and much appreciated, said Law.
“The community and fan support we get in this town is incredible and I don’t think there’s any better support anywhere in the league,” said Law. “It’s a great place to play and a great place for the coaching staff to work.”
