The Chilliwack Chiefs got their first win of the Fred Page Cup Finals with a 3-1 triumph over the West Kelowna Warriors on Monday night at Royal LePage Place.
After a scoreless first period saw the Chiefs out-shoot the Warriors 12-5, Chilliwack got on the board in the early going of the second period as Connor McCarthy snapped a goal past Matthew Greenfield to make it 1-0.
West Kelowna would respond and get the 1239 pro-Warriors crowd on their feet when Garrett Forster’s quick shot beat Aidan Pelino between the legs. Connor Sodergren drew the lone assist as he kicked the puck back to Forster’s stick off the face-off.
The Chiefs took a 2-1 lead after a bad turnover lead to a 2 on 1 the other way, with Darien Craighead finishing the play off as he buried the rebound.
In the third, Jordan Kawaguchi was left all alone to walk out of the corner, making a move to beat Greenfield in tight. While the Warriors tried to get within one late in the game, they couldn’t beat Pelino, who made 26 saves.
For the third straight game between these teams, the final moments had numerous skirmishes and rough stuff, with misconducts being handed out and no gloves being dropped.
Game 4 of the Fred Page Cup Final goes on Tuesday night at Royal LePage Place, as the Warriors look to take a 3-1 series lead into Chilliwack for Friday night’s Game 5. Tickets are on sale starting at 9 AM at the Warriors office, or by calling 250-769-7051.
