Morning Star Staff
For the first time in nearly a month, the North Okanagan Knights scored more than two goals in a Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Game.
And it was worth two huge points.
Dean Whitcomb scored his ninth goal at 1:15 of overtime, capping a rally from a 2-0 third-period deficit to shock the Okanagan Shuswap Division leading Osoyoos Coyotes 3-2 Wednesday at the Sun Bowl Arena.
The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for the Knights, whose 4-3 win at Revelstoke Nov. 12 was the team’s last victory, and the last time they scored more than two goals.
Osoyoos opened the scoring in the first period at 9:38 on a marker by Carter Robinson, and Judd Repole made it 2-0 Coyotes on a powerplay late in the second period.
Layne Greene, with his fourth, gave the Knights life at 14:42 of the final frame, and team leading scorer Brady Marzocco added his 15th of the year at 16:25 to complete the comeback, setting the stage for Whitcomb’s overtime heroics.
Jaden Hay had two assists for North Okanagan, who received a 43-save performance from Daniel Paul.
Adam Jones made 32 saves for the Coyotes (19-5-0-1).
With the win, the Knights (10-16-0-1) moved five points clear of the Princeton Posse in the battle for fourth place in the division.
North Okanagan is 11 points back of third-place Kelowna, with the Knights taking on the Chiefs Saturday in Rutland.
The Knights host the Posse Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.