The Osoyoos Coyotes and the Kamloops Storm go face to face against each other in front of the Kamloops net Friday night. Kamloops out performed the Coyotes, winning 6-2. The Coyotes recovered to shut out the Eagles 5-0 in Sicamous the following night. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes redeemed themselves Saturday night, shutting out the Sicamous Eagles 5-0 after a disappointing 6-2 opening home game loss to Kamloops the previous night.
The shutout in Sicamous Saturday was earned by goalie Daniel Paul, who the Coyotes acquired before the current season from the North Okanagan Knights.
Paul took over in the Coyotes’ net Friday night after starting goalie Liam Aitken let in four goals in the first half of the second period. The third and fourth of those goals came just 14 seconds apart.
The Coyotes performed respectably in the first period, leading 1-0 going into the second.
That goal was scored by returning player Hunter Johnson, assisted by rookie Justin Sanderson.
But the Yotes fell apart early in the second period and never managed to recover.
Things went wrong from the moment the Kamloops Storm scored a shorthanded goal in the first minute of the second period.
That was just the first of six goals Kamloops scored against the floundering Coyotes throughout that period as many of the 383 fans gasped in horror or trickled away from the arena.
Kaleb Comishin scored the lone Coyote goal of the second period, with Johnson and Connor Onstein assisting.
Neither team scored in the third period, but by then the damage was done.
The Storm’s 6-2 victory over Osoyoos was the only game in the six they’ve played this season that they haven’t lost.
But it was a very different game Saturday night when the Coyotes played the Eagles in Sicamous. That team, at the bottom of the Doug Birks Division, has lost all four games this season.
The first period remained scoreless, but the shots on goal – 13-4 for Osoyoos – suggest how much the Coyotes dominated play.
Midway through the second period, the Coyotes scored three quick goals in just over three minutes.
Johnson got his first of two goals in the game, assisted by Onstein and Sam Reinbolt.
A minute later, Nick Nordstrom scored for the Coyotes on a power play, with Johnson and Reinbolt assisting.
Two minutes later, Comishin scored a short-handed goal assisted by Carter Robinson and Nordstrom.
The period ended with the Coyotes ahead 3-0.
Two Coyote power play goals in the third period made the final score 5-0.
Johnson scored early in the period, assisted by Austin Cleaver and Jackson Barrett.
Less than three minutes later, Cleaver scored, assisted by Robinson and Barrett.
The Coyotes travel next to Summerland to face the Steam on Friday night, before returning to the Sun Bowl Arena on Saturday to host the Revelstoke Grizzlies. Next Wednesday night they host the North Okanagan Knights.
With two wins and two losses in four games, the Coyotes are now in fourth place in the Okanagan Division.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
The Osoyoos Coyotes were on the offensive sometimes in Friday night’s game, but this time Carter Shannon, number 9, was thwarted by the Kamloops Storm. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Kamloops Storm celebrates after scoring their fourth goal in Friday night’s game against Osoyoos at the Sun Bowl Arena Friday night. This one came just 14 seconds after their third goal, prompting the Coyotes to switch goalies. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes celebrate after Kaleb Comishin scored the home team’s second goal of Friday night’s hockey game halfway through the second period. By that point though, the Coyotes were trailing 4-2 and they were never able to mount a comeback. (Richard McGuire photo)
Carter Shannon takes the puck to Kamloops’ doorstep in the second period, but Storm goalie Jordan Wilde fended off the attack. (Richard McGuire photo)
Judd Repole (left) and Carter Shannon try to gain control of the puck in front of Kamloops’ net in the second period of Friday night’s 6-2 loss to the Storm. (Richard McGuire photo)
The scene of Kamloops celebrating goals kept repeating Friday night as the visitor’s beat the Coyotes 6-2. Pictured is their sixth goal with less than six seconds remaining in the game. (Richard McGuire photo)
