Blake Holowaty swoops in to score the Coyotes’ third and winning goal in the second period of Sunday’s 5-2 victory over Summerland. With the win, Osoyoos leads the playoff series 3-2. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes will be seeking sweet revenge when they battle the Kamloops Storm in their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) semi-final series.
For the third-consecutive season, the Coyotes are division champs and have made the final four in the KIJHL.
The Storm knocked the Coyotes out of the playoffs last year in five games after Osoyoos captured the first game in Kamloops.
This year, however, the Coyotes will be the favourites as they waltzed to the KIJHL’s regular season championship and will have home-ice advantage against the Storm.
The best-of-seven semi-final series kicks off Wednesday night in Osoyoos, with game two set for Thursday night at the Sun Bowl Arena. Fans should note that Thursday’s game will start 30 minutes later than usual with puck drop set for 8:05 p.m.
Game three will be played in Kamloops Saturday night, with game four set for Sunday afternoon in Kamloops.
If a fifth game is needed, it would be played in Osoyoos Tuesday night. If a sixth game is needed, the series would return to Kamloops next Wednesday evening. If a seventh-and-deciding game is needed, it would be played next Thursday evening at the Sun Bowl Arena.
The Coyotes advanced to the final four after edging the Summerland Steam 3-2 in Summerland Monday night to win what turned out to be a very difficult series 4-2.
After winning the first two games of that series, Summerland won the next two games on home ice.
The Coyotes returned to form on Sunday afternoon at the Sun Bowl Arena to take a 3-2 lead in the series and setting the stage for Monday’s clinching contest.
Ken Law, the head coach and general manager of the Coyotes, said he and his players are looking forward to battling Kamloops once again.
“They’re a big and talented team that are very well coached,” said Law. “It will be a bit of a chess match and we’ll be watching plenty of video to see what their tendencies are and where we might be able to exploit a few of their weaknesses.”
Summerland proved to be a very difficult opponent and that is not necessarily a bad thing at all this far into the playoffs, said Law.
“They played us very hard and put up a really good fight,” he said. “You always know that when you get into the playoffs that anything can happen and I really expected a tough battle with them. They played us really tough, but our guys hung in there, played well and got the job done.”
Winning the first two games on home ice would give his club a huge advantage in the series against Kamloops, said Law.
“That would really throw them back on their heels and would give us a really big boost,” he said.
The Coyotes have failed to reach the league finals each of the past two seasons and all of his players know this and are determined to take the next step and prove their dominance during the regular season was justified, said Law.
Against the Steam Monday night, the Coyotes saw their dormant power play come to life as they scored all three goals with a man advantage.
After Summerland took the lead four minutes into the contest, Jackson DeMatos tied it up halfway through the period.
Colten Braid put the Coyotes in front with eight minutes left in the second period, however, Summerland responded with a late goal to tie things at 2-2 heading into the third period.
Braid scored his second goal of the game, with helpers from Colin Bell and Aaron Azevedo, early in the third period.
The Coyotes held on for the crucial win as Summerland carried play in the third period. Goaltender Lawrence Langan made several key stops over the final 15 minutes of action.
Sunday afternoon in Osoyoos, Brett Jewell broke up a scoreless tie seven seconds into the second period to put the Coyotes ahead for good.
After Summerland tied the game two minutes later, Braid and Blake Holowaty scored five minutes apart to give the Coyotes a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Troy Maclise extended the lead to 4-1 early in the third period. After Summerland made things interesting with a power-play goal with 12 minutes remaining, Braid put the contest out of reach with a goal with less than seven minutes remaining.
In the other league semi-final series, the Kimberly Dynamiters will be facing the defending league champion Beaver Valley Nighthawks.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Brett Jewell opened the scoring just 17 seconds into the second period in Sunday’s playoff game against the Summerland Steam. The Coyotes’ 5-2 victory gives Osoyoos a 3-2 lead in the series. (Richard McGuire photo)
Colten Braid flipped the puck past Summerland goalie Brett Huber to score the Coyotes’ second goal in Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Steam. The win gives the Coyotes a 3-2 lead in their playoff series. (Richard McGuire photo)
Brett Jewell turns the heat up on Summerland goalie Brett Huber during Sunday’s 5-2 Coyote victory. Jewell didn’t score this time, but he did score the game opener. He’s done well in the playoffs, tying Troy Maclise for the second most points among the Coyotes after Aaron Azevedo. (Richard McGuire photo)
