The West Kelowna Warriors pick up their first victory of the season in Langley Friday night by a score of 8-5.
With both clubs looking for their first win of the season something had to give. Warriors Head Coach and General Manager Brandon West wanted more opportunities and production on the power play.
Coach West got that and more. It all started with a bounce going the Warriors way midway through the first. A sharp angle shot from John Evans would go off goaltender Kristian Lyon and in to give the Warriors the early 1-0 lead.
Only a couple minutes later the Warriors power play would have a chance to extend the lead, and after some quick puck movement Lucas Cullen would find a wide open Brandon Dent who would make it 2-0 Warriors.
The Rivermen would add a power play tally of their own to cut the lead to one late in the period, but 8 seconds later Max Bulawka skate into the Warriors zone and fire a wrist shot past Kristian Lyon to regain the two goal lead heading into the dressing room. Lyon would be replaced by Braeden Fleming in the 2nd.
The Warriors didn’t hold up in the second frame. Less than two minutes in, Levi Stauber would skate coast to coast and put one past Fleming to make it 4-1.
Then a couple minutes later the fourth line would steal the puck and David Vieten would attempt a pass which would go off a Rivermen defender and in to make it 5-1 Warriors. The game seemed over by the midway mark of the 2nd, but the Rivermen would go back on the man advantage and add not one but two goals to cut the lead to two.
Again, the Warriors would find themselves on the power play where Brandon Dent would score his second of the hockey game making it 6-3.
Frustration would set in for the Rivermen towards the end of the third period where Rivermen Captain Tanner Versluis gave Declan Douthart a shot leading to Austin Chorney dropping the gloves with Versluis. Both Chorney and the Rivermen Captain would be ejected for fighting.
The third period saw the Warriors play a little too conservative in their own zone leading to the game getting a little close for comfort. Midway through the period the Rivermen would a pair from Brendan O’Grady and Kaeden Patrick to cut the lead making it 6-5 Warriors.
The fans inside George Preston Arena would start to get engaged and make noise throughout. The turning point of the game would be a big save by Brock Baier who robbed the Rivermen on a two on one to keep it 6-5. Warriors would add a pair of empty net goals.
One from Lucas Cullen and another from Levi Stauber to make it an 8-5 final. Lucas Cullen would finish the game with a 5 point evening. Best yet, Warriors would be a perfect 3/3 on the power play after going 0/8 last Sunday.
Three Stars:
Fortis Energy Player of the Game:
The Warriors next game is Sunday September 15th versus the Victoria Grizzlies. Puck drop 2:30pm from Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna.
This game will be streamed on Hockey TV and will be broadcast on the Warriors radio network on Mixlr. Make sure to bring your skates for the Tim Hortons family skate where you can skate with the Warriors after the game. Tickets are available online at tickets.westkelownawarriors.ca.
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