Very few Canadians would argue with the notion that hockey is Canada’s national religion.
While that religious passion is shared by Canadians from the west coast to the east coast and all points in between, this is a particularly glorious time for Osoyoos and area hockey fans.
Coming off the emotional high that Osoyoosites shared with millions of other Canadians when our men’s and women’s national teams claimed gold medals at the Sochi Winter Olympics, hockey fever continues to run rampant in our community.
That’s because the Osoyoos Coyotes are hopefully beginning another long and glorious playoff run and local residents will find out next weekend whether or not we’ve made the cut to be in the running to be named Kraft Hockeyville for 2014.
The Coyotes are battling the Kelowna Chiefs in the opening round of the Kootenay International Hockey League (KIJHL) playoffs.
Game one took place in Kelowna Tuesday night, while game two took place at the Sun Bowl Arena Wednesday night. Game three is set for Kelowna Friday night and game four will return to the Sun Bowl Arena Saturday night.
While the Chiefs enjoy home-ice advantage in this series, the Coyotes appear to be more than capable of winning the best-of-seven showdown.
The Coyotes enter the playoffs having won six games in a row before dropping the season finale this past Sunday in Summerland in a game that meant nothing to either team.
The Chiefs, however, struggled down the stretch and had lost five games in a row entering the playoffs.
The Coyotes defeated Kelowna in five games in the second round of last year’s playoffs on their way to coming within one game of making the KIJHL finals, so there’s no doubt the Chiefs are going to want to exact revenge.
But talk is cheap in hockey and this series will come down to the team that executes better, scores timely goals and receives outstanding goaltending.
Head coach and general manager Ken Law believes this year’s squad is more than capable of another long playoff run.
Playoff hockey is usually fantastic, this year’s Coyotes have a fast and talented team and we wish them all the best against Kelowna.
Two years ago, Osoyoos made national headlines when our community made the final 15 nationally and top three in B.C. during the Kraft Hockeyville contest.
The 16 national finalists will be announced during a broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, March 8.
Local organizer Cathy Martins and the town have organized a “Jersey Day” this Friday to generate excitement and all hockey fans are urged to wear their favourite team jersey.
All local residents are also invited to the Sonora Community Centre on March 8 to watch the Hockey Night in Canada announcement.
If Osoyoos does make the top 16, voting stations will be set up and local hockey fanatics can start casting their votes to try and make Osoyoos Kraft Hockeyville 2014.
Here’s hoping the Coyotes will play their best hockey of the season and repeat last year’s thrilling playoff run and Osoyoos will again makes it mark in the Kraft Hockeyville 2014 contest.
