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GAME PREVIEW: Warriors Close Out BCHL Showcase vs. Capitals

The West Kelowna Warriors look to close out their Bauer BCHL Showcase on a high note as they take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Thursday evening at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack.

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Warriors vs. Capitals 2016/17 Season:

Saturday, October 29th @ Island Savings Centre (3-2 Warriors) (BOXSCORE)

Sunday, January 15th @ Royal LePage Place (7-3 Warriors) (BOXSCORE)

Warriors vs. Capitals 2017/18 Schedule:

Thursday, September 21st @ Prospera Centre (4:00 PM)

Saturday, October 21st @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)

Friday, February 9th @ Island Savings Centre (7:00 PM)

The Warriors and Capitals met twice last season with West Kelowna earning a pair of victories over Cowichan Valley, winning a tightly contested affair on the Island in Duncan with a 3-2 win before completing the season series sweep with a 7-3 victory in mid-January. The Warriors have won three straight games against the Caps with their last loss coming on December 4th, 2015 in West Kelowna.

The Warriors enter Thursday evening’s matchup following a 7-2 victory over the Coquitlam Express on Wednesday night as seven different goal scorers added to a good night for West Kelowna. Matt Kowalski, Stephen Kleysen, Willie Reim, Chase Stevenson, Max Bulawka, Matt Campese and Jared Marino all scored in the win for the Warriors with Nik Amundrud making 30 saves on 32 shots in the win.

It was an offensive outbreak for the Warriors on Wednesday night with the seven-goal mark, matching their season total coming into the game one day ago. To add onto that fact, Matt Kowalski had four of the Warriors seven goals, he now has five of the fourteen West Kelowna markers. 13 of the 18 players (excluding goalies) were able to find the score sheet in some way last night to spread the scoring around.

With the win yesterday, the Warriors improved their BCHL Showcase record to 9-2-0-0 and have won seven straight games at the annual event. Only Penticton has a better points percentage over the course of the five-year Showcase. The Warriors have defeated the Express three times in those five years and have defeated Cowichan Valley once in Chilliwack.

Matt Kowalski’s 5th goal of the season vaulted him into a tie for the BCHL lead in goals scored, sharing the spotlight with Powell River Kings forward Kevin Obssuth. When it comes to some more of the league leaders, Wyatt Head leads the Warriors with 4 assists and is in 11th in the BCHL in regards of rookie scoring.

Cole Demers will earn his 2nd start in the Warriors crease this season as he takes the blue paint this evening for the Warriors. The Kelowna native was outstanding in his 1st start, making 32 saves on 33 shots before being robbed of his first career BCHL shutout late in the 3rd period. The 18-year-old currently leads the league with a 0.99 GAA and is 2nd in the BCHL with a .971 SV%.

The Cowichan Valley Capitals enter today’s action with a 1-3-0-0 record following a defeat to the hands of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Wednesday afternoon. In a penalty filled affair, the Caps went 0/8 on the power play while getting goals from Cole Broadhurst and Alec Zawatsky, who’s goal came late in the game to make for an interesting finish, but in the end, it was the ‘Backs who held on for the 3-2 victory. Yann Dery got the start in goal for the Capitals, making 35 saves on 38 shots in the losing effort.

Despite the poor power play result from a day ago, the Capitals have one of the best man advantages in the league and will keep the Warriors on their toes all evening long. The Caps are 2nd in the BCHL with a 50.0% power play and have scored on 6 of the 12 attempts they have had so far this season. Their penalty kill, on the other hand, is one of the worst in the league, operating at a mere 54.5%, allowing five goals against in eleven attempts.

The Capitals are led in scoring by first year Cap Andrew Jackson, the owner of 2 goals and 3 assist for 5 points. Following Jackson is rookie David Laroche with 5 assists, Ty Pochipinski had 3 goals and 1 assist for 4 points, Nicholas Wilson and Alec Zawatsky each have 2 goals and 2 assists while Marshall Skapski had 4 assists to round out the top 6 in scoring.

It is likely that the Warriors will see veteran goaltender Adam Marcoux start for the Capitals in this evening’s affair. The Calgary, Alberta native owns a 1-2-0-0 record to go along with a 6.86 GAA and a .849 SV% in 3 games so far this season. Marcoux spent last year with the Capitals and posted some solid numbers, getting into 22 games with a 3.94 GAA and a .902 SV%.

The Warriors and Capitals get underway this evening from the Bauer BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack at 4:00 PM with the pre-game show starting at 3:45 PM on the Warriors Internet Network (www.mixlr.com/bchlwarriors) as well as live on pay-per-view through www.hockeytv.com with the voice of the Warriors Trevor Miller and guest colour commentator, Warriors Chaplain Pastor Don Richmond.