Osoyoos ousts Kelowna

Coyotes prevail in 6 games over Chiefs

For the fifth time in six years, the Osoyoos Coyotes are KIJHL Okanagan Division champions and will play for the OkanaganShuswap Conference title.

Jackson Barrett scored with 12:39 to play to break a 1-1 tie as the Coyotes beat the Kelowna Chiefs 3-1 on Tuesday night at Rutland Arena.

Cody Allen added an empty-net goal with two seconds left as the Coyotes won the best-of-seven second-round series 4-2.

Colin Bell also scored and Game 5 hero Connor Onstein added two assists for the Coyotes, who became the first road team to win in the series. Brett Witala replied for the Chiefs. Bell’s power-play goal at 5:03 of the first period stood up until Witala tied it 5:57 into the third. But Barrett connected 1:24 later and the Coyotes were able to hang on.

Daniel Paul made 28 saves for the win, while Joseph Mcleod stopped 24 for the Chiefs.

The Coyotes will play either the Revelstoke Grizzlies or 100 Mile House Wranglers in the conference final. 100 Mile forced a Game 7 with a 3-2 overtime win at home on Tuesday. Game 7 was played Wednesday in Revelstoke. If the Grizzlies win, the series starts in Revelstoke on Friday, while the Coyotes would open at home if 100 Mile advances.

The Kootenay Conference final between the Kimberley Dynamiters and Nelson Leafs starts Friday in Kimberley.

The KIJHL champion advances to the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championship, set for April 12-15 in Richmond. Effective this season, B.C. will not be sending a team to the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Championship.