Osoyoos out after 3-1 loss in Game 5

Osoyoos Today

Osoyoos Coyotes coach Ken Law worried Nic Bruyere would steal one from his Coyotes.

That worry became reality Friday as the Heat netminder stopped 42 shots and the Chase Heat won the KIJHL Okanagan conference championship with a 3-1 win at the Sun Bowl, taking the best-of-five series 3-2.

“He played well tonight,” Law said. “He’s good, but they’re not a slouch of a team at all either. We gave up our opportunity to win on Tuesday and Wednesday and they got momentum. They came ready to play tonight.”

The Heat, after two series-opening losses in Osoyoos, rebounded with two improbable wins on home ice.

That set up Friday’s winner-takeall Game 5 before a record Sun Bowl crowd of 693 — including a raucous contingent from Chase.

Things started well for the home side, Colten Rhodes scoring for the Coyotes at 8:15 of the first frame.

From there, though, it was all Heat — at least on the scoreboard.

Spencer Farstad tied the game at 1-1 less than two minutes later.

Then, with Cody Allen in the box to start the second period, Kaden Black gave the Heat a 2-1 lead.

Zachary Fournier book-ended the period by scoring Chase’s third goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the frame.

The Coyotes were looking to return to the KIJHL championship for the first time since 2010-11.

The Heat face the Beaver Valley Nitehawks in the KIJHL final.

The Hawks dropped visiting Kimberley 5-2 on Friday to win the Kootenay Conference championship series 3-2.