It’s been almost three weeks but the North Okanagan Knights finally return to Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action tonight.
The Knights visit the Okanagan Shuswap Division-leading Coyotes in Osoyoos.
North Okanagan scored a 3-2 ovetime division over the Coyotes in their last trip to the Sun Bowl on Dec. 7.
North Okanagan dropped its final two games before the Christmas break and sit at 11-18-0-1, good for fourth place in the division.
The good news for the Knights is the Princeton Posse had a chance to move into fourth place but dropped two games after the Christmas break, 6-1 at Summerland and 5-0 in Osoyoos.
The Coyotes, 24-5-0-0, are five points ahead of the second-place Steam, and are one of four teams to already clinch playoff spots.
The others going to the post-season are the Kimberley Dynamiters, Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial hosts Creston Valley Thundercats and the Beaver Valley Nite Hawks.
The Knights host the Posse Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Nor-Val Sports Centre before visiting the Sicamous Eagles Saturday.
North Okanagan is the third-last out of the league’s 20 teams to return to action following the Christmas break.
The Kamloops Storm and Spokane Braves will play their first games this weekend.