West Kelowna’s 12-game unbeaten streak came to an end Friday, with a 2-1 double overtime loss in Merritt.
Scott Patterson opened the scoring just four minutes into the game, and the Centennials held a 1-0 advantage for much for the game.
Taki Pantziris finally beat Merritt goalie Devin Kero midway through the third period to get the Warriors on the board and force yet another overtime finish.
The clubs exchanged numerous chances to claim the win before Sam Johnson converted a Merritt two-on-one rush in the final minute of 3-on-3 double OT.
“I think everybody’s getting a little sick of going to into overtime” Warriors defenceman Ryan Fraser-Lee joked after the game, while also insisting that one OT setback won’t derail West Kelowna’s hot-streak.
“Our mental state as a team is high enough right now where this isn’t going to stop us” Fraser-Lee says, pointing to his team’s resilience as an overwhelmingly positive trend.
“Every game we don’t quit” the Michigan product states. Fraser-Lee admits that his team has struggled somewhat during second periods of late, but he also knows that the third period surges have been impressive. “Come the third, we pull it together and we battle” he says, adding “We never give up.”
Fraser-Lee was critical of his team’s defensive zone play in Merritt, even though the club allowed just two goals against in almost 70 minutes. “We weren’t supportive enough of our guys on the walls to get out of the zone” he says.
West Kelowna’s single point, along with Penticton’s loss to Salmon Arm, means the Warriors now trail the first-place Vees by two points (with one game in hand). Meanwhile, Merritt still trails Salmon Arm by one point in the race for the 4th and final playoff spot in the Interior Division.
Much more Warriors talk is on tap at The General’s Report.
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