The Osoyoos Coyotes looked uninspired, sloppy and undisciplined in dropping a 7-3 decision to the Steam, Friday night in Summerland.
Quite a poor effort, considering a win would have vaulted them from last to second place in the Bill Ohlhausen Division.
For one thing, they couldn’t contain Connor Nicolay, who had a hat trick and two assists for the Steam.
Even the usually reliable goaltending was a disappointment. Hayden Lee got pulled after allowing four goals on nine shots. Hunter Arntsen didn’t fare much better in relief, giving up three goals on 13 shots.
Newcomer Bronson Seymour, Scott Dyck and Jordan Gale, with his first KIJHL goal, scored for the Coyotes. Seymour looked good in his debut, before exiting the game in the second period with an upper body injury that could keep him out of the line-up for an extended period of time.
Osoyoos was actually tied 2-2 in the first period and trailed just 4-3 early in the second. However, Summerland pulled away with three unanswered goals after that.
Powerplays were seven to three in favour of the Steam and again, the netminding certainly wasn’t up to par with the final shots at 33-22 Coyotes.
Next up are back-to-back games against the Kamloops Storm, the first of which is Saturday night (Nov. 4th) at 7:00 at the Sun Bowl.