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RECAP: Demers Dazzles In Warriors 4-1 Win Over Centennials

PHOTO: Wayne Moore/Castanet

The West Kelowna Warriors scored three third period goals and got 38 saves from newcomer Cole Demers on their way to a 4-1 victory over the Merritt Centennials on Friday night at Royal LePage Place.

The Warriors and Centennials played to a scoreless tie after one period of play as West Kelowna came out strong with 16 first period shots but Merritt netminder Jacob Berger stopped all of the 16 shots he faced in the period. New Warriors goaltender Cole Demers was very good in his first twenty minutes of action, making 8 saves on 8 shots to keep the game at zeros after one period.

The Warriors opened the scoring 8:09 into the 2nd period and came courtesy of a gorgeous rush by 17-year-old forward Chase Stevenson, who also scored his first BCHL goal on the play. Stevenson picked the puck up in his own zone and raced through the neutral zone, made a nice move around the Merritt defense and buried the puck through the legs of Berger for his first junior hockey goal and the 1-0 Warrior lead.

Cole Demers, along with Stevenson, was the star of the period, making 12 2nd period saves with most of those being of high quality and was up to 20 stops after 40 minutes of play. Jacob Berger was no slouch in the Merritt crease as well, making 28 saves on 29 shots after 2 periods and 12 of 13 shots were stopped by him in the middle stanza.

The Warriors added to their lead at the 3:47 mark of the 3rd period as Connor Sodergren was fed in tight by Quin Foreman and had Berger fooled to the blocker side and buried it into the open goal for his 13th goal of the season and a 2-0 Warrior lead.

West Kelowna extended their lead to three with another nice passing play at the 10:41 mark of the final frame as Logan Mostat connected on a nice pass from Foreman on the blocker side and fired home his 15th goal of the season to make it a 3-0 score in favour of West Kelowna.

The Cents got on the board courtesy of a power play that had just 6 seconds remaining in it as a face-off win spurred a Zach Metsa point shot to be deflected in by Zach Court in front to cut the deficit to two as the lead went to 3-1 for the Warriors.

West Kelowna rounded out the scoring at the 15:12 mark as Connor Sodergren was at it again with his second goal of the night, banking in a puck from behind the goal line and scoring his 14th goal of the campaign and putting the Warriors lead back up to three goals and making the final 4-1 in favour of the Warriors.

Cole Demers made 18 3rd period saves and 38 overall on the night on 39 shots for his 4th victory of the season and first in the Warriors crease while Jacob Berger stopped 34 of 38 shots he faced for his 12th loss of the season for the Centennials.

FINAL SCORE: 4-1 Warriors

SHOTS ON GOAL: 39-38 Centennials

PP: Warriors (0/2) Centennials (1/4)

3 STARS: 1) Cole Demers (38 saves on 39 shots)

2) Connor Sodergren (2-1-3)

3) Chase Stevenson (1-0-1)

Attendance: 822

The Warriors (19-17-0-1) are back in action Saturday night to conclude their home-and-home series with the Merritt Centennials (14-16-2-7) at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena in Merritt. Take note of the start time as it is a 8:00 PM face-off in Merritt with pre-game starting at 7:50 PM on the Warriors Internet Network and pay-per-view on hockeytv.com.