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RECAP: Warriors Shut Out Spruce Kings With 4-0 Victory In Prince George

PHOTO: Matt Jensen Photography

The West Kelowna Warriors got a 33-save shutout performance from Gabriel Morency and came away with their grittiest effort of the season in a 4-0 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena on Thursday night.

The Warriors jumped out to an early lead in this one as just 5:00 into the hockey game, a former Spruce King came back to burn his former club with the game’s first goal. A nice play in the neutral zone saw AP forward Juanre Naude pass the puck in front for Cavin Tilsley who buried it past Prince George netminder Aris Anagnostopolous for his 5th goal of the season for the 1-0 Warrior advantage.

The score would remain at 1-0 throughout the remainder of the first period with an impressive frame of play for the Warriors, especially considering the Warriors late arrival time of 6:20 PM with bad weather conditions slowing their trip. Warriors netminder Gabriel Morency stopped all nine shots he faced in the opening period while Anagnostopolous made 16 of 17 saves in the first frame.

The 2nd period was played mostly scoreless and on the penalty kill but it was when down a man that the Warriors took a two-goal advantage. After a turnover at the blue line, Jon Russell sped past the defense and beat Anagnostopolous through the five hole for his 7th goal of the season and the shorthanded marker put the Warriors ahead by a 2-0 score.

Gabriel Morency continued his hot night with 16 saves in period number two for 25 saves total through 40 minutes of play while Aris Anagnostopolous made 25 saves on 26 shots for the Spruce Kings through two periods.

The third period saw two goals from the Warriors that started at the 14:23 mark of the 3rd period as Jon Russell buried his second goal of the game and his 8th goal of the season as he jammed in a loose puck on the blocker side after a terrific rush from Tyler Jutting from his own zone for the 3-0 lead for West Kelowna.

The Warriors finished out their scoring at the 17:54 mark of the final period as another former Spruce King got in on the scoring as Prince George native Braiden Epp buried a loose puck behind Anagnostopolous for his 16th goal of the season on the power play to extend the Warriors advantage to 4-0 where that would hold on as the final score.

Warriors goaltender Gabriel Morency turned aside all 33 shots he faced on the night for his 3rd win as a Warrior and his first career BCHL shutout, the 2nd of the season for the Warriors. Spruce Kings netminder Aris Anagnostopolous stopped 33 of 37 shots for his 2nd loss of the season.

FINAL SCORE: 4-0 Warriors

SHOTS ON GOAL: 37-33 Warriors

PP: Warriors (1/5) Spruce Kings (0/7)

3 STARS:

1) Jon Russell (2-0-2)

2) Gabriel Morency (33 saves on 33 shots)

3) Tyler Jutting (0-1-1)

ATTENDANCE: 1745

The Warriors (25-24-0-2) are back in action on Saturday night when they head to Kal Tire Place for the final time this season when they face-off against the Vernon Vipers (27-16-4-5). Puck drop is slated for 6:00 PM with the pre-game show starting at 5:50 PM on the Warriors Internet Network and www.hockeytv.com.