Osoyoos Coyotes’ forward Bobby LaRue (No. 9) flips the puck over the leg of Grand Forks goalie Tyler Loura to score the Coyotes’ fourth goal on a power play last Wednesday night at the Sun Bowl Arena. The Coyotes won the game 6-1. The Coyotes also defeated Spokane Braves 6-4 on Friday night and whipped North Okanagan Knights 6-1 Sunday night on home ice to extend their winning streak to five consecutive games. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes were rolling sixes as they extended their winning streak to five consecutive games by winning all three games they played in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) action last week.
The Coyotes’ scored six goals in each game they played last week as they whipped the Grand Forks Border Bruins 6-1 on home ice last Wednesday night.
The Coyotes then made the long trip to Spokane on Friday night and emerged with a hard-fought 6-4 victory, before returning home Sunday evening and skating away with an easy 6-1 win over the North Okanagan Knights.
As a result of the five-game win streak, the Coyotes now possess one of the best records in the league with a record of 12 wins, four losses and one overtime loss after 17 games.
That puts them ahead of the surging Kelowna Chiefs, who now sport a record of 9-3-2-2.
Against the Border Bruins, the Coyotes jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period and were never threatened.
Judd Repole got things started with a goal 90 seconds in the game. Reid Wilson and Carter Robinson scored goals three minutes apart late in the opening frame to give the Coyotes a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes of action.
Grand Forks cut the lead to 3-1 with a power play marker five minutes into the second period to cut the lead to 3-1, but that would end up being their only goal of the night.
The Coyotes put things away with three more goals in seven minutes midway through the second period. Bobby LaRue, Jackson Glimpel and Braeden Tuck scored the goals.
There was no scoring in the third period.
In Spokane, a power play goal by LaRue with just over a minute left in regulation time proved to be the winner as the Coyotes picked up the victory in a tough contest. Rainer Glimpel scored an empty net goal in the final seconds to secure the victory.
Tuck scored the game’s first goal midway through the first period.
After the Braves tied the game, Rainer Glimpel scored his first goal of the contest to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead after the first period.
Spokane tied it again early in the second period, but Colton Rhodes restored the lead for the Coyotes four minutes later.
Ryan Morrell extended the lead to 4-2 midway through the second period, but the Braves scored two late goals to tie things up at 4-4 after 40 minutes of play.
The Coyotes outshot the Braves 14-4 in the third period, but couldn’t bulge the twine until LaRue’s later marker.
Back on home ice Sunday evening, the Coyotes scored three unanswered first period goals and waltzed to the easy win over the Knights.
Colin Bell, Carter Shannon, with a shorthanded goal, and Jackson Glimpel, scored for the Coyotes in the opening frame.
North Okanagan scored the only goal of the second period to narrow the lead, but the Coyotes pulled away with three more unanswered goals in the third period.
Jackson Glimpel scored his second of the night and Shannon added two more, including a shorthanded goal with two minutes remaining, to net the first hattrick of his KIJHL career for the Coyotes.
Rainer Glimpel has moved into second place in league scoring with 15 goals and 17 assists in 17 games.
Veteran goaltender Brett Soles is near the league lead in wins, goals against average (1.74) and save percentage (.944).
The Coyotes will play three more games this week as they try and extend their latest winning streak.
They will play host to Castlegar Friday night and then host Revelstoke Grizzlies Saturday evening at the Sun Bowl Arena. Game time for both contests is 7:35 p.m. The Coyotes will make the short trip to Kelowna to battle the Chiefs on Wednesday night at the Rutland Arena.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Jackson Glimpel (No. 13 left) flips the puck into the net to score the Coyotes’ fifth goal in last Wednesday’s 6-1 victory over Grand Forks. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Grand Forks Border Bruins only managed one goal against the Coyotes in last Wednesday’s game when Joshua Windley (No. 21, left) managed to score on a power play. The Coyotes, however, took a 6-1 decisive victory. (Richard McGuire photo)
