Desert Dogs rout Rebels to capture 2011 KIJHL title
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Osoyoos Coyotes exploded for four first period goals en route to thumping the Castlegar Rebels 7-1 to clinch the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Championship Saturday at the Complex in the Sunflower City.
The Desert Dogs win the best-of-seven series 4-2 and now represent the KIJHL at the Cyclone Taylor Cup beginning Thursday in Fernie.
The Ghostriders gain an automatic bye as host of the four-team tournament. Osoyoos and Fernie are joined by the Vancouver Island and Pacific Junior winners at the four-day B.C. Junior B Hockey Championship.
Osoyoos got going early and never looked back. Steve Sasyniuk scored 35 seconds into the contest on Rebel goalie Alex Ross to begin the rout.
Thierry Martine made it 2-0 on the power play before Brock Anderson and Shane Hana scored in the final three minutes to give the visitors the insurmountable lead.
Hana’s goal, a weak wrist shot that fooled Ross, came with nine seconds remaining in the period.
Castlegar coach Steve Junker made the tough decision during the period intermission, pulling Ross in favour of backup Cole Buckley.
Osoyoos made it 5-0 after two periods before scoring twice in the third. Castlegar snapped the shutout bid by Kyle Laslo in the third.
The title continues the Cinderella season for the Desert Dogs.
Osoyoos, granted an expansion franchise last year, won the regular season crown with an amazing 42-2-2-4 record for 90 points, claimed the Okanagan Division title and dethroned the defending KIJHL champs from Revelstoke in six games to capture the Okanagan Conference playoff crown.
The Coyotes, formerly the Osoyoos Storm before the team moved to Kamloops, last won the title in 2005.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
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