OSOYOOS -- C.J. Kort's second-period goal held up as the winner as the Osoyoos Coyotes nipped the Castlegar Rebels 2-1 in the KIJHL finals opener Saturday night.
Kort converted a Matt Guerts point shot to break a 1-1 tie, and Coyotes goaltender Kyle Laslo held the fort against a Rebels club pressing for an equalizer until the final horn.
Osoyoos treated the franchise-record crowd of 675 to a great start.
Former Grand Forks Border Bruin Stefan Jensen deflected home the opener just over 8 minutes in before the Rebels tied things up on a Stuart Walton goal.
Montrose's Alex Ross made 23 saves for Castlegar including a flashy glove robbery on Josh Gray shortly after the go-ahead goal.
The two teams will play Game 2 Sunday in the South Okanagan before returning to the Complex for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday.