The North Okanagan Knights rode off into the sunset Thursday night as their playoffs came to an end at the Osoyoos Sun Bowl.
The Coyotes stopped the Knights 7-4 to take the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. Okanagan/Shuswap Division final series 4-1.
It was a rematch of last year’s conference final which was won by North Okanagan.
“We just simply ran out of gas,” said Knights’ head coach Shawn Webb.
The Knights went to Game 7 in the previous round against the Summerland Steam. The Coyotes took care of business in four games against the Kelowna Chiefs.
“Very proud of my guys. There were many chances to pack it in and they refused,” said Webb.
The Knights were trying to rebound from a 10-0 spanking in Game 4 and they were up 2-1 after one period and tied 4-4 after 40 minutes.
The Knights went 3-for-4 on the powerplay with captain T.J. Christensen recording a deuce and Matt Halvorson a single. Graduating forward Tanner Burns scored to level the score with 64 seconds left in the second period. Colin Chelmka put Osoyoos in front 5-4 just 13 seconds later.
Luc Gradisar, Aaron Azevedo, Rory Neary, Troy Maclise, Rainer Glimpel and Colten Braid also supplied snipes for the Coyotes. Azevedo has eight goals and 17 points, while Neary has seven goals and 15 points.
Lawrence Langan backed up his Game 4 shutout with 24 saves, while Zach Dyment made 39 saves for the Knights.
Osoyoos is primed for a conference title series with top-ranked Kamloops Storm. Both teams have only dropped one game this postseason.
As for the Knights, there will be a lot of overturn on a fairly young roster. They also lose 20-year-olds Christensen and Blake Culbert. Several Knights have received invites to BCHL camps and tryouts.
Added Webb: “We want kids to move through the program. We want to develop and prepare hockey players for the next level.”
Meanwhile, Viper affiliate Dallas Calvin and former Viper Ryan Edwards each scored twice as the Beaver Valley Nitehawks stopped the Nelson Leafs 6-2 before 500 fans Friday night in Fruitvale.
Beaver Valley took the series in six games and will play the winner of Kimberley-Creston Valley.
