The Summerland Steam’s nine-game winning streak ended from a 5-2 loss to the Osoyoos Coyotes on Nov. 28.
The Coyotes sealed the win in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League play with two empty net goals. The Coyotes scored first on a goal by Bobby LaRue in the first period, then added to their lead on a goal by Rainer Glimpel on the power-play. Jack Mills got the Steam within a goal on their own power-play then Riley Pettitt even things at two with eight seconds remaining in the second period. The Coyotes netted the winner 6:40 into the third period and the first empty net goal was scored at 1:23 by Colin Bell. Reid Wilson added the second empty net goal with 18 seconds remaining. The Steam are now 16-9-0 with one overtime win.
It was fast, it was hard, it was skilled and it was mentally draining, no matter what side of the puck you were on. There was no shortage of bad blood, but also no excess of it, which is exactly what you want to see. Both teams played whistle to whistle and didn’t engage too much in between, which is another thing we usually see a lot of between these two teams.
Summerland went into the Sun Bowl hoping to come out with just a three-point differential between them and the first place Coyotes. Instead the point spread is and Summerland was left wondering what more they had to do against a Coyotes team that has given them fits over the past few years.
With the Coyotes’ victory, they stay undefeated on home ice. The two teams will meet again at the end of December with a mid-week home and home on back-to-back nights Dec. 28-29. Summerland will regroup and look to start another streak Tuesday night when the North Okanagan Knights come to town for a 7:30 p.m.
