A highly entertaining hockey game was enjoyed by a great crowd at Royal LePage Place on Monday night, as the West Kelowna Warriors scored the last five goals, but fell 8-6 to Red Bull Salzburg, a Under-20 team from Austria
Salzburg came out flying in the opening period, as they held a 4-0 lead after just 20 minutes. It was a combination of some great speed and unreal puck movement from the European squad.
It was Marek Valach who opened the scoring just 59 seconds in, as his attempt from behind the goal bounced off Warriors goaltender Keelen Williams and slid over the line to send the Austrian bench jumping early.
A beautifully executed two on one gave Salzburg a 2-0 lead, as Valach picked up his second of the night on a perfect shot from the right circle.
Liam Blackburn was stopped on a penalty shot after Red Bull Salzburg took the 3-0 lead, but could not convert, before Florian Baltram was the recipient of his first of the night after the puck found his stick on a 3-way passing play to make it 4-0.
It was Connor Sodergren who scored the Warriors first goal, as he beat Wouter Peeters upstairs to make it 5-1, before Salzburg responded with a lightning quick pair, just five seconds apart to make it 8-1.
West Kelowna kept playing the body throughout the game, engaging in some scrums after the whistles, as both teams became feisty in the middle part of the second period
It would be Bryan Basilico and Kyle Marino (PP) who brought the Warriors within five as the third period began. Basilico drew an assist on the Marino marker, setting him up with a nifty little pass from below the goalline.
The Warriors out-shot Red Bull Salzburg 21-10 in the final frame, and scored the only 3 goals as Blackburn potted one shorthanded, before Quin Foreman and Tyler Anderson both beat Peeters to bring West Kelowna within two.
The Warriors were put down a man with three minutes to play and could not create enough offense to get within one.
West Kelowna is off until Friday night, where they’ll take on the Vernon Vipers at Kal Tire Place, before returning home to RLP on Saturday night, facing the Mainland Division leading Chilliwack Chiefs.
