The West Kelowna Warriors needed 40 minutes to start controlling the game against the Surrey Eagles on Sunday afternoon, but exploded for 4 goals in the 3rd in a 7-2 victory during a feisty day at Royal Lepage Place.
The Warriors opened the scoring early in the game as Jonathan Desbiens 24th was ripped into the goal after a blow tire by the Surrey defense. Desbiens emphatic celebration brought the Warriors faithful to their feet.
Surrey would knot the game up at 1 late in the frame on an individual effort from Austin Anselmo as he got his own rebound past Keelan Williams to tie the game up.
West Kelowna took the lead for good in the 2nd period on a crafty deflection from Connor Sodergren, before Lane Gilliss potted a rebound in front of Justin Laforest off a Bryan Nelson shot to give the Warriors a 2-goal cushion.
Jake Harrison and Tyler Andrews fought near the Eagles bench in the middle of the frame after some stick-work behind the play.
The Eagles responded as Hunter Kero’s 1st BCHL goal beat Williams on the backhand, as the Eagles looked poised late in the frame to keep this one tight throughout.
West Kelowna exploded in the 3rd period in a 6:31 stretch, as Garrett Forster widened the lead to two at 5:17.
Nick Rutigliano turned himself into Duncan Keith with his 2nd in as many nights on the man advantage, before the Eagles would give West Kelowna a 3rd power play to set up a BCHL first.
Gilliss and Nelson connected again on that power play, as the Massachusetts product Nelson buried the biscuit from the right circle to make it 6-2.
Forster and Liam Blackburn worked some passing magic to round out the scoring as the Warriors put their foot on the pedal to close the deal.
West Kelowna has now won 6 of their last 7 games, and will take a 3-game win streak into a home game against Merritt on Friday January 8th at 7 PM.
