Cameras flash so much. That I gotta do that Ayo dance.
Goaltender Ayo Ogini was the story of the night, as the West Kelowna Warriors picked up their first win of the season on Friday night at RLP in the 2024 Home Opener, taking down the visiting Vernon Vipers 2-1. After a poor showing last weekend in the Kootenays, the Warriors returned to their home faithful for the first time this season with a purpose and one common goal; Get two points.
Pregame festivities saw the Warriors name Landen Hilditch as the team’s new captain. The Surrey native, now in his third year in the BCHL, had many people to thank in his journey to junior hockey captaincy. “I’ve had the privilege to learn from a lot of great leaders over my time in juniors” said Hilditch, in a first intermission interview with Brad Karp, “My parents as well, the way they taught me growing up… made me the person I am today.”
The game started with a quick back and forth pace, with both teams exchanging chances in the first half of the period. Lucas Brennan would solve the stalemate 12 minutes into the opening frame for Vernon, taking advantage of an odd man rush and ripping a shot high to the stick side on Ayo Ogini to make it 1-0. In the late stages of the opening frame, with “Captain Hildy” in the box for roughing, Carter Oakenfold intercepted a d-to-d pass intended for Adam Csabi, turned on the jets, and lifted the puck over the blocker of Vernon tender Colin Reay to tie the game at one.
Jack Pridham was flying in the first half of the game, getting quality scoring chances, quality zone entries and generating turnovers. Early in the second, Pridham rushed down the right wing and ripped a shot labeled for the top corner, but was thwarted by the glove of Reay. Three minutes later, Pridham wouldn’t be denied. After going for a loop in the neutral zone, the Blackhawks draft pick gained the attacking zone and pumped an unassuming wrister between the legs of a Vernon defender, and between the legs of Colin Reay to give West Kelowna a 2-1 lead. Pridham’s marker would go on to be the game winner.
Ayo Ogini was fantastic between the pipes in his BCHL debut, stopping 21/22 for his first win in the league. “It felt really good [to get my first win],” said Ogini postgame. “I think the boys played well in front of me, I felt comfortable out there, so overall a good game.”
With their first win of the season in their back pocket, the Warriors travel to Kal Tire Place in Vernon on Saturday for a rematch with the Vipers. Puckdrop is scheduled for just after 6:00. Catch all the action with Joey Pitt on FloHockey, or listen along for free at mixlr.com/BCHLWarriors.
PHOTO: Tami Quan Photography
