PHOTO: Julie Pringle/Snap Photography
The West Kelowna Warriors look to close their weekend at home out on a victorious note when they host the Nanaimo Clippers in their lone visit to Royal LePage Place on Sunday afternoon.
Warriors vs. Clippers 2016/17 Season:
Friday, October 22nd @ Frank Crane Arena (3-2 Clippers) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, December 17th @ Royal LePage Place (2-1 Warriors) (BOXSCORE)
Warriors vs. Clippers 2017/18 Schedule:
Sunday, October 15th @ Royal LePage Place (2:30 PM)
Saturday, January 6th @ Frank Crane Arena (6:00 PM)
The Warriors enter play on Sunday afternoon after a fast-paced, high energy and great atmosphere game on Friday night at Royal LePage Place where West Kelowna fell to the Wenatchee Wild by a 4-2 score. Willie Reim opened the scoring with his 3rd goal of the season while RJ Murphy tied the game midway through the 3rd period but the Wild scored a late shorthanded marker to put them ahead for good. Nik Amundrud was solid in the Warriors net, turning aside 33 of the 36 shots he faced in the game for his 4th loss of the season.
West Kelowna and Nanaimo met twice last season with both teams coming out of the season series with a one-goal victory under their belts, each winning on their team’s home ice. The Clippers picked up a 3-2 win in Nanaimo in late October while the Warriors returned the favour just before Christmas with a tight 2-1 win at Royal LePage Place.
Warriors Leading Scorers:
Jared Marino (5-6-11)
Cavin Tilsley (3-8-11)
Matt Kowalski (5-4-9)
RJ Murphy (4-4-8)
Bennett Norlin (3-5-8)
Although much of the scoring for the Warriors over the last half a dozen games has been going through the line of Jared Marino, Cavin Tilsley and Bennett Norlin, another one of the American forwards that the Warriors possess has been solid over the last few weeks. RJ Murphy has found the back in three of his last four games, including his 2nd power play goal of the season, which ranks him in tie for second on the team in that category.
The Warriors get a welcomed addition back into their lineup on Sunday afternoon as forward Matthew Campese returns to the ice after serving a six-game suspension that he received on September 27th in Langley for leaving the bench to join an altercation. The 20-year-old West Kelowna native has one goal and three points in six games so far this season.
Cole Demers will get the start in between the pipes for the Warriors, looking to rebound after stopping just one of the three shots he faced in a short outing against the Surrey Eagles last Tuesday. Despite that, the Warriors netminder still holds top spot in the BCHL in regards of goals against average (1.30) and save percentage (0.954).
The Nanaimo Clippers come into Sunday afternoon after back-to-back losses on their Interior Division road trip with a 4-1 setback to the Vernon Vipers on Friday night and fell by a 4-2 score last night in Salmon Arm against the Silverbacks. Jake Harris and Jamie Collins scored in the game for Nanaimo while Austin Roden turned aside 34 of the 38 shots he faced in his 3rd loss of the season.
Clippers Leading Scorers:
Tristan Crozier (6-9-15)
Jake Harris (6-7-13)
Jamie Collins (7-4-11)
Cal Babych (2-7-9)
Parker Colley (4-4-8)
The Clippers have 8 players returning from their roster that took the ice in 2016/17 including captain Jamie Collins, forwards Jake Harris, Tristan Crozier, Brady Lynn, David Silye and Vincent Millette along with defenseman Shawn Guison and goaltender Austin Roden. Added to those returning veterans is the offseason acquisitions of forward Parker Colley from the Prince George Spruce Kings and forward Cal Babych from the Coquitlam Express.
Speaking of returning forwards, one that has been red hot is 19-year-old Jamie Collins, who scored one of the two Nanaimo goals on Saturday night in Salmon Arm and has points in 11 of the 12 games he has played so far this season. North Vancouver, BC native Tristan Crozier has been a big contributor up front for Nanaimo as well with multi-point games in 5 of the 9 games that he has a point in this season.
One number in particular that jumps off the stats page is the penalty minutes for the Clippers as they are 3rd in the BCHL with 208 PIM’s on the season and have given up the 2nd most power play goals against sitting at 20. The Clippers penalty kill ranks at 16th in the BCHL at 72.2% as staying discipline could be a big key in this afternoon matinee.
The Warriors and Clippers face-off against one another at 2:30 PM this afternoon with tickets available at the Warriors office or by calling (250) 769-7051. Immediately following the final buzzer, the Warriors would like to invite fans to a post-game skate with the team. Bring your skates and come out and have some fun on the ice with the boys!
The Warriors have introduced a new Fan’tatstic Five ticket package that gives fans a chance to experience five of the most highly anticipated games of the season for just $55.55 with games against the Wenatchee Wild, Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Vernon Vipers and Victoria Grizzlies. For more information on these packs and all ticket info, visit the Warriors office or call (250) 769-7051.
