With puck drop on the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season coming on Sept. 19, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams. Next in the Quick Shift series are the Osoyoos Coyotes.
The Coyotes finished sixth in the Bill Ohlhausen division last seas with a record of 15-26-2-1, missing the playoffs.
The Coyotes head into the season with new head coach-general manager Jackson Playfair.
“My biggest thing was trying to find the positive energy and guys that were excited for a challenge and looking to turn things around a bit,” said Playfair. “I’ve been really impressed with the overall attitude and energy from our veteran guys. I think they’re looking for and ready for that challenge of bringing in some more structure, more accountability and more of a growth mentality with the players. It’s junior hockey, we need to perform, but we also need to grow as a team, we need to get better every day.”
The Coyotes’ slogan for the season is “new energy.”
“The guys have bought into that,” said Playfair. “We’re excited to get the community going and get everyone excited about coming back to the Sun Bowl Arena and watching games and that’s an important piece for us.”
Returning Players: F- Mason Rudolph (42-12-26-38), Spencer Fleck (44-14-22-36), Nicholas Vopat (39-6-11-17), Logan Messer (38-6-10-16), Austin Rampone (32-2-5-7), D- Russell Weatherhead (32-9-12-21), Kaelen Holowaty (42-2-15-17), Joseph Trigiani (24-0-1-1), G- Jaidyn Jakubowski (31-12-18-0 | 3.97 GAA | .898 SP).
Acquisitions: F- Dylan Konschuh (via Sicamous Eagles – 41-8-15-23), Hunter Jaman (via trade from the Castlegar Rebels – 38-1-3-4).
Rookies: F-Soren Brons-Douville OHA U18 Prep (31-6-6-14), D- Chase Kunn – Prairie Hockey Academy U18 Prep (35-4-10-14), Ethan Torres – Central Zone Rockets U18AA (17-11-7-18).
Team Outlook: Veterans have shown up with a learning attitude, they want to get better, want to improve and then they want to hold each other accountable.
Playfair wants to get quicker on the ice.
“The game is moving quickly, but you have to be able to move fast and make plays at a high speed and also be able to get in quick on the forecheck and get out of your own zone,” he said.
With his summer recruiting, Playfair was trying to find players who could play the game with pace and get on the forecheck.
Between the pipes, the Coyotes have a leader in 20-year-old Jaiden Jakubowski, who has impressed Playfair with his work ethic and professionalism to be prepared. To lead that way.
“The goaltending position is extremely important and I think at times the guys need to be able to lean on your goalie. For me that’s where that position has to be hardworking, dialed in, putting in the extra time and Jaiden has done that since the summer since I took this job,” said Playfair. “I was bugging him, we practice at 8:30 a.m., I usually get over there around 6:45 a.m. and Jacko pulls in right around 6:47 a.m., so he’s dialed and wants to have a good season. He wants to lead from the net.”
