The West Kelowna Warriors got strong goaltending from Keelan Williams and timely scoring in a 3-1 win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Halloween Night in West Kelowna.
Angus Redmond made big key saves early on, as the two teams renewed the intensity that they had the night before. Things reached a boiling point in the final minute of the period.
Marcus Mitchell laid a big hit on Rylan Yaremko behind the net, as Kyle Marino came to challenge Mitchell to fight. After the first punch was thrown by Mitchell, Marino dropped his gloves sticking up for his teammate. Marino would be shown the gate, and would get an instigator penalty as well. Mitchell remained in the game as he got 4 minutes for roughing.
Right after that, Garrett Forster was hit in the back by Mitch Newsome, as his head hit the glass. Yaremko didn’t like that hit, and also picked up an instigator and a fight, while Newsome was thrown out for a major penalty for Blow to the Head.
On a 4 on 3 power play in the final minute, the Warriors worked the puck to Jonathan Desbiens who went top corner with 0.6 seconds remaining on the clock.
In the 2nd period, the hits continued and with the Warriors short handed, Brett Mennear would go in with Liam Blackburn on a 2 on 1. Like Friday night, the Warriors found the back of the net when Blackburns perfectly timed pass back to Mennear was put past Redmond to make it 2-0.
The Warriors made it 3-0, when Forster, who returned after slowly making his way off from the Newsome hit, went top shelf on a partial break, ending Redmond’s night.
The Silverbacks pressed throughout the 3rd period, but Williams stood tall for the Warriors, until 5:07 left in the period.
On a 5 on 3 after a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, the ‘Backs finally broke the Warriors perfect penalty kill streak, when Colton Thibault deflected a point shot past Williams.
Salmon Arm would not score again, as the Warriors held on for the win.
West Kelowna got out-shot 34-33 in the game. The Silverbacks were 1 for 10 with the power play, while West Kelowna went 1 for 4.
The Warriors play two more home games next weekend, with matchup’s Friday against Merritt, and Sunday afternoon against Nanaimo.
