Coyotes settle for tie with Knights, won’t win another conference pennant

The North Okanagan Knights salvaged some pride while ending the Osoyoos Coyotes hopes of winning the KIJHL’s Okanagan-Shuswap Conference pennant.

Alec McLeod scored a power-play goal with 44 seconds to play as the Knights rallied to tie the Coyotes 4-4 on Wednesday at the Nor-Val Centre in Armstrong.

Levi Harris scored twice and Jake Huculak once for the Knights (14-25-3-4), who were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week.

Carter Shannon scored twice and Carter Robinson and Austin Cleaver also scored for the Coyotes (31-10-2-2).

Osoyoos outshot North Okanagan 46-33 in a game that was tied 1-1 and 3-3 at the period breaks.

The Coyotes have already won a fourth straight Okanagan Division pennant, but are now five points behind the Revelstoke Grizzlies in the conference with two games left.

Osoyoos finishes up by playing in Revelstoke tonight and then at home to North Okanagan on Saturday at 7:35 p.m.

The Coyotes face Princeton in the first round of the playoffs, with Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven set for Feb. 23 and 24 at the Sun Bowl.

The other Okanagan Division semifinal pits the Summerland Steam against the Kelowna Chiefs for a second straight year. However, home-ice advantage in the series has yet to be decided.

Summerland (26-15-1-3) and Kelowna (25-15-1-4) are separated by one point and the two teams clash tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Summerland Arena.

The Steam would clinch second place with a regulation or overtime win tonight.

On Saturday, Summerland visits Revelstoke, while Kelowna hosts Princeton.

One KIJHL playoff spot is still up for grabs, in the Neil Murdoch Division, with the Grand Forks Border Bruins holding a four-point lead over the Spokane Braves, with the Braves having two games left and the Bruins only one.

The two teams go head-to-head tonight in Grand Forks with the Bruins needing just a point to clinch and earn the right to face Nelson in the first round.

Spokane needs to win in regulation tonight and win in Castlegar in any fashion on Saturday to make the playoffs.