First star Brett Hawrys scored goals five minutes apart in the first period as the North Okanagan Knights grounded the Osoyoos Coyotes 5-1 Saturday night at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.
The Knights tied the best-of-seven Kootenay International Junior Hockey League semifinal series at 1-1. Game 3 goes tonight at the Sun Bowl in Osoyoos.
Vernon Midget Vipers’ call-up and second star Blaine Caton, 15, scored what proved to be the winner, two minutes after Hawrys opened the offence 1:45 into the game before 350 fans.
Troy Maclise pulled the Coyotes within a deuce seven minutes into the third period before captain Steven Pantazopoulos and Mat Lambert, on the power play, fnished the Knights’ scoring.
Vernon Midget call-up Matt Halvorson, a defenceman, drew an assist on Pantazopoulos’ goal and was named third star. Hawrys had the first assist on Lambert’s powerplay snipe from low in the slot.
The Knights outshot the Coyotes 41-26 in a hard-hitting affair. Game 4 goes Tuesday night in Osoyoos with the fifth game Thursday night in Armstrong.
Please see Wednesday’s sports section for detailed Knights’ playoff coverage.
