It wasn’t the season opener that new head coach Jim Armstrong was dreaming of.
The Osoyoos Coyotes pounded the North Okanagan Knights 11-0 in their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League opener Friday night at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.
“It’s a tough start to the year but it is only game one,” said Armstrong.
The Knights trailed 3-0 following the opening frame.
“It wasn’t the start we wanted,” said Armstrong. “I thought we looked nervous in the first.
“I thought Collin Robin played a great game. He was a leader on the ice and the bench.”
The Coyotes downed the Knights in five games in the playoffs last spring including a 10-0 drubbing in Game 4.
“We just need to put it behind us and refocus. We are going to do some team building activities and practise. We can’t reflect on this too much,” said Armstrong.
It was all hands on deck for the Coyotes as they outshot the Knights 45-19. Rainer Glimpel scored a pair as nine other Coyotes found their way onto the scoresheet. Vernon product Brett Jewell supplied a goal.
“I thought that Mitch Profeit played well in the first. If it wasn’t for him, it could have easily been seven or eight nothing in the first,” said Armstrong.
The Knights are still searching for their first win since March and were outscored 10-2 in the exhibition season.
Profeit made 14 saves on 19 shots and was yanked in the second period for Brady Lenardon.
The Knights host the Golden Rockets today at 3 p.m. The Rockets doubled up the Princeton Posse 4-2 Friday night in Princeton.
Several Vernon products have had a strong start to their season.
Cole Woodliffe sniped a goal and two helpers as his Summerland Steam smoked the Kelowna Chiefs 6-2 Friday night at Summerland Arena.
Hayden Chase racked up five penalty minutes with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in their 3-3 draw with the Nelson Leafs.
The 100 Mile House Wranglers clipped the Grand Forks Border Bruins 4-2 in the other KIJHL game Friday night.
