Osoyoos Coyote Bryson Garska is about to pass during the team’s last game of the regular season on Saturday, where they were served a 10-2 loss from the Summerland Steam. The Coyotes are now in the first round of playoffs against the Kelowna Chiefs, which started with another double-digit loss – 10-1 for Kelowna – on Tuesday. (Vanessa Broadbent photo)
By Vanessa Broadbent
Osoyoos Times
Playoffs are underway and the Osoyoos Coyotes met with the Kelowna Chiefs at Rutland Arena on Tuesday evening for the first match of the series.
Things didn’t go as planned for Osoyoos, however, and Kelowna dominated with a 10-1 win.
By the time Milo Labonte brought in the Coyotes’ first goal halfway through the second period, the Chiefs already had a five-point lead.
Another five goals for Kelowna in the second half of the game, including hat tricks for Chiefs players Brody Dale and Lane Paddison, brought their final score into double digits.
Coyotes goalie Daniel Paul stopped 32 of the 42 shots against him, and was replaced with Bailey Monteith for the last 14 minutes of game time.
Monteith stopped all 10 shots during his time in net.
Coyotes’ top scorer Brock Marple sat out on suspension and won’t be able to hit the ice again until game five on March 4.
Blake Astorino, also scratched, will play again on March 1.
Head coach Dean Maynard said this is most of the team’s players first time entering this level of playoff intensity.
“It’s a different world and a whole different type of hockey play,” he said. “As a bench staff we try to prepare the players as best as we can from meal planning to hockey systems. It’s up to the players on how eager they are to win these games.”
The Coyotes faced the Chiefs again on Wednesday evening, after press deadline, and are up for an intense week with games on March 1 and 2, as well as 4, 5 and 6 if necessary.
Games on March 1, 2 and 5 will be at Sun Bowl Arena and start at 7:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 7:35 on Tuesday.
