The Kamloops Storm and Osoyoos Coyotes meet at centre ice to offer each other congratulations on a well-played series. (Richard McGuire photo)
After their strongest season ever, the Osoyoos Coyotes lost their KIJHL semi-final series to the Kamloops Storm Tuesday night.
The fifth game of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) Okanagan/Shuswap Conference semi-final ended in a 2-1 victory for the Storm after neither team managed to score in the third period.
The series began well for Osoyoos with a convincing 7-2 victory over Kamloops last Wednesday night. From there, however, the Coyotes suffered four straight losses beginning with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Storm at the Sun Bowl last Thursday.
With losses of 6-3 and 3-1 on the weekend in Kamloops, the Coyotes faced a do-or-die situation when they returned to home ice on Tuesday.
The Storm scored first in the second half of first period with the goal going to Bobby Kashuba, assisted by Mitch Friesen and Mark O’Shaughnessy.
In the final minute of the first period, the Coyotes tied the score on a goal by Rainer Glimpel, assisted by Brett Jewell and Jackson DeMatos.
The only goal of the second period went to Kashuba, his second of the night, on a power play, assisted by Alex Winters.
The Coyotes outshot Kamloops 12-5 in the second period, but failed to score as Kamloops goalie Jacob Mullen put in a strong performance.
Both teams played cautious hockey in the final period with only 10 shots on goal between them, six by Kamloops and four by Osoyoos. Kamloops took the only penalty of the third period, for delaying the game, as neither team wanted to face the other’s power play.
With just a minute left in the third period, the Coyotes pulled goalie Lawrence Langan for an extra attacker. They turned up the heat in the final minute, but failed to score, ending the series.
The Storm will face the Kimberley Dynamiters for the KIJHL championship.
Richard McGuire
Osoyoos Times
(Richard McGuire photos)
With six attackers and their goalie pulled, the Osoyoos Coyotes turned up the heat in the final minute of the game, but failed to score. (Richard McGuire photo)
Seconds after the final buzzer, Kamloops Storm players gathered to celebrate their victory. (Richard McGuire photo)
Osoyoos Coyote players congratulate each other on a great season, but their disappointment is obvious. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Kamloops Storm and Osoyoos Coyotes meet at centre ice to offer each other congratulations on a well-played series. (Richard McGuire photo)
