OSOYOOS TIMES-October 13, 2010
By Laurena Weninger – Osoyoos Times
The Osoyoos Coyotes lost a game to the Kelowna Chiefs in overtime on Oct. 8, but came back strong the next day with a 6-2 win over the Sicamous Eagles – leaving the Osoyoos team the lone KIJHL team yet to suffer a loss in regulation time.
On Oct. 8, Kelowna quickly kicked off the scoring on their home ice, finding the back of the Osoyoos net just 1:16 into the game.
But the Coyotes responded with three straight power-play goals, two from Thierry Martine and another off the stick of Stefan Jensen, to jump ahead 3-1.
The Chiefs got one back in the final minute of the period to make it 3-2.
The only goal of the second period came from Kelowna with a one-man advantage, leaving the two teams tied 3-3 heading into the third.
Things looked bleak for Osoyoos after the Chiefs took a 5-3 lead, but a pair of late goals from Brandon Watson and Martine (completing his hat trick) just 31 seconds apart, drew the Coyotes even at five with less than three minutes remaining in regulation.
That meant for the second consecutive Friday, the Coyotes were headed for overtime.
The sudden-death period featured an unsuccessful Kelowna power play, in addition to a disallowed breakaway goal from Shane Hanna that drew some controversy.
However, as three-on-three was winding down, the Chiefs’ Tanner Clarkson managed to slide the puck underneath Osoyoos netminder Kyle Laslo with only 16.3 seconds on the clock for a 6-5 Chiefs’ win.
Disappointed by the outcome of the night before, the Coyotes rebounded from their first loss in 10 games the following day at Sicamous.
A first-period goal from Watson and two from Jensen gave the Coyotes a 3-0 cushion after 20 minutes.
The Eagles played a much more spirited second period and were rewarded with two late goals within 49 seconds to trail just 3-2 heading into the third period.
In the third, it was the Coyotes’ turn to regain their composure.
Watson’s second goal of the game, a hat-trick goal from Jensen, as well as Josh Dacosta’s first goal of the season helped Osoyoos come to a 6-2 decision.
The Coyotes’ Billy McGladrey was solid between the pipes during the Sicamous game, improving to a perfect 4-0-0-0 record and stopping 22 of 24 shots.
The two points gives the Coyotes a league best 23, thanks to a record of 10-0-1-2.
Next weekend’s action includes a night trip to Grand Forks on Oct. 15, prior to a home game in Osoyoos the next night when the Coyotes host Creston Valley.
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