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RECAP: Warriors Comeback Effort Falls Short In 5-3 Loss To Silverbacks

The West Kelowna Warriors made a valiant comeback effort but fell in the end by a 5-3 score to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Friday night at Royal LePage Place.

The Warriors got off to a great start and put up the first goal of the game on a power play. Reed Gunville slid the puck through the legs of Salmon Arm goaltender Brandon Kegler for his 5th goal of the season and a 1-0 Warriors lead at the 2:48 mark of the 1st period.

Salmon Arm went on to rally together three unanswered goals beginning with Marcus Mitchell’s fluttering shot past Warrior netminder Shane Farkas for a 1-1 tie at the 4:44 mark of the opening period.

The ‘Backs took the lead at 7:49 of the 1st period on the man advantage as Haydn Hopkins scored his first BCHL goal through the legs of Farkas from the slot to make it a 2-1 Silverback lead.

Connor Sundquist extended the ‘Backs lead to two with a deflection in front at the 12:06 mark of the first period and Salmon Arm went ahead by a 3-1 score as the first period ended.

Shane Farkas’ day came to an end at the media timeout in the first frame, allowing three goals on ten shots and giving way to Xavier Burghardt in the Warriors crease.

No scoring was to be had in the 2nd period but it wasn’t for a lack of trying as the Warriors threw 16 shots on goal to Salmon Arm’s 8 but couldn’t find a way past Kegler.

Four more goals were scored between the two sides in the third frame and started well for the Warriors as just 2:52 in, Chase Dubois’ glove side wrist shot beat Kegler for his first goal of the season and to make it a 3-2 game.

The ‘Backs, as they did all night, had an answer at the 5:13 mark on the man advantage with a slapper from Jake Heerspink getting through traffic and beating Burghardt to make it 4-2 for the visitors.

Just under four minutes later, Connor Sodergren deflected in a Stephen Kleysen point shot for his 4th goal of the season and got the Warriors back within one at 4-3.

Spencer Hora put the finishing touches on the game at the 16:20 mark of the third period with a knuckler that got past Burghardt to make the final 5-3 in favour of the Silverbacks.

West Kelowna poured on the pressure in the 2nd and 3rd periods but couldn’t beat Kegler. The Warriors outshot the ‘Backs by a 40-28 margin with Kegler making 37 saves for his first win of the season. Xavier Burghardt picked up the loss in the Warriors crease, going 16 for 18.

West Kelowna (5-4-0-0) wraps up their five-game home stand on Saturday night when they host the Vernon Vipers (5-3-0-2) at 7:00 pm from Royal LePage Place. Tickets can be purchased at the Warriors office or by calling Kim at (250) 769-7051.