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Short-handed Okanagan squad takes Prospects game

Despite having to deal with last-minute roster shuffles, the Okanagan Conference came away victorious in the annual KIJHL Prospects Game.

Three straight third-period goals proved the difference as the Okanagan prospects skated to a 6-4 win in Fernie Friday night.

Beaver Valley’s Dallas Calvin scored three goals for the Kootenay Conference in a losing cause, while Castlegar Rebels rookie Diego Bartlett chipped in with two assists.

Bartlett was joined in the Prospects Game by Rebels teammates Jamie Vlanich and Alex Ross.

The Kootenay Conference did have a brief 4-3 lead in the final frame, but Osoyoos’ Thierry Martine and Kamloops forward Kevin Leschuk scored short-handed goals in quick succession before Martine’s Coyotes teammate Carter Rigby added an empty-netter.

Martine, who is the KIJHL’s co-scoring leader along with Fernie’s Thomas Abenante, scored twice for the Okanagan side, despite the fact he was not originally slated to take part in the Prospects Game.

No fewer than seven Okanagan prospects, including both goaltenders, missed out on the event after encountering difficulty on the trip to the Elk Valley.

Coyotes goaltender Kyle Laslo, the reigning Okanagan Conference Player of the Month, played the entire game for the victors while Ross and Creston Valley’s Ryan Waldhaus split duties for the Kootenay Conference.

Three Rebels: Ryan Aynsley, Mike Wiest and Taylor Anderson, will get a chance to strut their stuff Saturday night when the All-Star game takes centre stage.