Defenceman Nick Rutigliano’s overtime goal lifted the host West Kelowna Warriors to a 3-2 B.C. Hockey League exhibition win over the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday.
Rutigliano, a native of Shrewsbury, Mass., scored the winner with a shot from the point during a 4-on-3 powerplay early in OT. Assisted by Reed Gunville and Quin Foreman, it was the Warriors’ third straight goal with the man advantage.
Connor Sodergren, a fellow Massachusite, had opened the scoring for the Warriors at 7:38 of the first period at Royal LePage Place, with Foreman and Gunville again drawing assists.
The Smoke Eaters responded with goals by Spencer McLean and Max Newton 3:25 apart late in the opening frame, but West Kelowna came back at 4:13 of the second period as Gunville, launching a three-point night, converted passes from Sodergren and Tyler Anderson.
A scoreless third period set the stage for Rutigliano’s heroics in overtime.
The Warriors, 1-1 in pre-season play, will travel to Trail today for a return match.
On Wednesday, the Warriors will get another look at their young recruits when they play an exhibition encounter against the Penticton Vees at the South Okanagan Events Centre (7 p.m.) in Penticton.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks will play host to the Warriors on Sept. 4, while the Warriors will return the favor for their final pre-season game on Sept. 5 at Royal LePage Place (7 p.m.).
West Kelowna's BCHL regular season begins Sept. 11 when the Warriors open against the visiting Merritt Centennials at RLP.
In other BCHL exhibition action on Friday, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks scored four goals in the second period en route to a 6-1 victory over the visiting Vernon Vipers at the Shaw Centre.
Kelowna Minor Hockey Association products — Josh Blanchard and Sam De Melo — both scored once and added an assist in the Silverbacks' win. Other Salmon Arm goals came from Aaron Aragon, Colton Thibault, Nick Hutchison and Josh Laframbroise. Calllum Volpe replied for the Vipers.
Zach Dyment stopped all 15 Vipers shots he faced, while reliever Daniel Toews handled 12 of 13 shots in the Salmon Arm net. Vernon's Jarrod Schamerhorn stopped 28 of 31 Silverbacks shots and Joseph McLeod allowed three goals on 12 Vernon shots.
The two teams meet again tonight at Kal Tire Place in Vernon beginning at 6 p.m.
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