Osoyoos and Summerland renew rivalry in 2nd

For the second straight season, the Osoyoos Coyotes and Summerland Steam will clash for the KIJHL’s Okanagan Division title.

The best-of-seven series gets going with Games 1 and 2 tonight and Wednesday, both 7:35 p.m. puck-drops, at the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos.

The series shifts to the Summerland Arena for Game 3 on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Game 4 on Saturday at 7:55 p.m.

If necessary, Game 5 is Monday, March 13 at 7:35 p.m. at the Sun Bowl, Game 6 Tuesday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Summerland, and Game 7 Wednesday, March 15 at 7:35 p.m. at the Sun Bowl.

The Steam upset the Coyotes 4-2 in last year’s division final, but Osoyoos comes into the series by far the most rested team.

Osoyoos swept the North Okanagan Knights 4-0 and will have had a full week’s rest by the time the series starts tonight.

Summerland was pushed to seven games by the Kelowna Chiefs before prevailing in a 2-1 nailbiter on Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

In the regular season, the Coyotes won five of the eight games against Summerland, with all games decided in regulation time.

The teams split the four games in Osoyoos, but the Coyotes took three of four in Summerland.

Osoyoos finished with a 37-8-1-1 record for 76 points while Summerland was second at 34-9-3-1 for 72 points.

The winner of the series will take on the winner of Doug Birks Division final between the Chase Chiefs and Kamloops Storm for the Okanagan-Shuswap Conference title.

In the Kootenay Conference, it is Nelson against Beaver Valley (Neil Murdoch Division final) and Kimberley versus Creston Valley (Eddie Mountain Division final).

The Kamloops-Chase series started Monday, while all eight remaining playoff teams are in action tonight.