The West Kelowna Warriors (12-4-2-0) are back on home ice to host their only meeting against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (8-9-1-1) on Saturday night at Royal LePage Place.
REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE vs. ALBERNI VALLEY
Saturday, November 19th @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
West Kelowna enters the game on Saturday night looking to avenge a tough one on Friday, falling by an 11-2 score to the Penticton Vees at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Ben MacDonald and Rylee Hlusiak each found the back of the net while Justin Katz started the game, making 13 saves on 20 shots before being relieved by Nicholas Cristiano, who turned aside 12 of the 16 shots he faced.
The Warriors and Bulldogs will play their one and only game of the season on Saturday at Royal LePage Place and will be the first time since October 23rd, 2021 that the two teams will square off. West Kelowna and Alberni Valley met at the BCHL Showcase last season with the Bulldogs scoring a 5-2 win at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
Warriors Leading Scorers:
Jaiden Moriello (11-8-19)
Michael Salandra (7-9-16)
Ben MacDonald (7-8-15)
Isaiah Norlin (2-13-15)
Felix Caron (5-9-14)
It is a big night at Royal LePage Place as Pastor Don Richmond is hosting his 12th annual Christmas Hamper Drive. Fans are encouraged to bring cash donations to help cover the costs of filling the hampers with the goal being set at 80 hampers to fill for those families in need during the holiday season. A donation will also get you an entry into the draw table with some great prizes to be won. $1 from each ticket sold tonight will go towards the purchasing of the hampers, which will feed a family of 5 for a Christmas breakfast and dinner.
The Warriors will also be honouring the Okanagan Sun Football Club on Saturday night as the team captured their 3rd Canadian Bowl Championship last Saturday in a 22-19 win over the Regina Thunder at Mosiac Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Sun went a perfect 14-0 on their season and will have some hardware in the building with them. Fans are asked to be in their seats early to catch the pre-game festivities.
While it was in a losing effort, Seattle Kraken prospect Ben MacDonald did extend his point streak to a season-high six games on Friday night with his 1st period breakaway goal. The Harvard University commit has scored in four of his last six games while earning 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points during his point streak. A Weston, Massachusetts product, MacDonald has vaulted to third in team scoring with 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points on the campaign.
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs make their way into the final game of a three-game road trip after earning a win on Friday night against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, scoring a 5-2 decision at the Shaw Centre. Newcomer Dakota MacIntosh scored a hat trick in the win while Ethan Bono and Will Elger added singles in the victory. Hobie Hedquist turned aside 32 of the 34 shots thrown his way in his 6th triumph of the season.
Bulldogs Leading Scorers:
Ethan Bono (10-10-20)
Matthew Maltais (7-12-19)
Cam VanSickle (7-6-13)
Nicholas Beneteau (6-7-13)
Raoul Boilard (5-8-13)
The Bulldogs return 12 players from last year’s team that won the Coastal Conference with a 35-15-3-1 record before losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Langley Rivermen. Captain Chase Klassen is back along with forwards Ethan Bono, Zeke Nicholson, Matthew Maltais, AJ Vasko and Nicholas Beneteau. Defenders Emanuelson Charbonneau, Jeremy Fontaine, Logan Holm, Caden Tremblay and Braden Blace also return on the blue line with Hobie Hedquist back in net for Alberni Valley.
It did not take long for newcomer Dakota MacIntosh to endear himself to his new teammates, scoring three times in Salmon Arm on Friday night to help them to a victory in the second of a three-game trip that saw the Bulldogs fall to the Prince George Spruce Kings by a 5-2 score in PG on Wednesday. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native was signed after spending the beginning of the season with the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League (USHL), earning two goals and an assist in eight games before coming to the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs leading scorer Ethan Bono has been a consistent source of offense for his club in his third season in a Bulldogs sweater. The Merrimack University commit sits with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points this season and has registered a point in 8 of his last 9 contests. A Port McNeil, BC product, Bono has scored in five of his last seven games, putting up six goals and five assists for eleven points during that nine game stretch while amassing 29 goals and 70 points in his 89 games played with Alberni Valley.
The Warriors and Bulldogs will play the one and only game of their season on Saturday night at Royal LePage Place. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with tickets available on the westkelownawarriors.ca as well as in-person at the Box Office ahead of puck drop.
