Troy Maclise flips the puck into the net in the first of two apparent goals that were disallowed. This one was in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Summerland Steam. Maclise had a good game anyway, scoring the winning goal, assisting on the second Coyote goal and being chosen first star of the game. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes beat the Summerland Steam in their two weekend games, but both games were won by the narrowest of margins.
On Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena, the Coyotes broke a tie with just 12 seconds left in the third period to win 3-2.
Then on Sunday night, a 3-3 tie game went into two periods of overtime before Osoyoos scored to earn a 4-3 victory.
The two wins give the Coyotes 61 points with 30 wins, six losses and one overtime loss – eight points ahead of the number two team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), the Fernie Ghostriders.
On Saturday night, the first and only two-minute penalty of the match turned out to be a game changer.
With just a minute and a half left in the third period and the score tied 2-2, Jack Mills of the Steam took a penalty for boarding.
The two teams had been evenly matched throughout the game, but in the final minutes, the Coyotes cranked up their power play.
The Steam engaged in some effective penalty killing. Finally, with just 12 seconds left in the period, Rainer Glimpel set up Troy Maclise who flipped a shot from the side into the net.
Summerland called time out, but to no avail. They never had the opportunity to pull goalie Brett Huber for an extra attacker and the game ended 3-2 for the Coyotes.
Saturday’s first period remained scoreless until the final couple of minutes when Daniel Stone gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead, assisted by Brett Jewell and Judd Repole.
Close to midway through the second period, Rory Neary flipped the puck from the side into the net to make it 2-0 for the Coyotes. He was assisted by Maclise and Darryl Senholt.
Early in the third period, the Coyotes appeared to get complacent. A minute and a half into the period, Summerland scored. This was quickly followed less than two minutes later by a tying goal for Summerland.
Only then did the Coyotes appear to pick up the pace.
Neither team dominated play for any length of time and total shots of goal were 38-37 for Osoyoos.
Despite allowing two quick goals in the third period, Brett Soles performed well in goal for the Coyotes.
Sunday’s game started badly for the Coyotes. The Steam scored early in the first period and then made it 2-0 with just two seconds left in the period.
Less than a minute into the second period, Maclise scored with the assist going to Neary.
Summerland scored a power play goal in the second half of the period to make it 3-1.
Glimpel was the Coyotes’ hero of the third period, scoring an unassisted goal early in the period and adding another one six minutes later, assisted by Senholt and Blake Holowaty.
With the third period ending in a 3-3 tie, the game went into two five-minute periods of overtime. Just over three minutes into the second overtime period, Jackson DeMatos scored the game winner with Maclise and Cody Allen getting assists.
The Coyotes next host the 100 Mile House Wranglers on Friday evening at the Sun Bowl Arena.
They then play two games against the North Okanagan Knights. The first is an afternoon game on Sunday in Armstrong and the second is Wednesday, Jan. 7 at the Sun Bowl Arena.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Blake Holowaty was awarded a penalty shot in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Summerland Steam. He failed to score. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rory Neary flips the puck into the side of the Summerland net to score the Coyotes’ second goal in Saturday night’s game. (Richard McGuire photo)
Troy Maclise flips the puck into the net in the second of two apparent goals that were disallowed. This one was in the second period of Saturday’s game against the Summerland Steam. Maclise had a good game anyway, scoring the winning goal, assisting on the second Coyote goal and being chosen first star of the game. (Richard McGuire photo)
Troy Maclise (left) celebrates after flipping the puck into the Summerland net while the crowd behind erupts. This apparent goal, like one he got in the first period, was disallowed. Maclise later scored the game winner with just 12 seconds left in the third period and he was chosen first star of the game. (Richard McGuire photo)
