Photo Credit: Tami Quan Photography
March 10th, 2019
WENATCHEE WAS. – The West Kelowna Warriors look to win their best of seven series in game 6 of the BCHL’s Interior Division Quarter Final tonight.
WARRIORS VS WILD REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:
Sept 15th @ WEST KELOWNA – 4-2 LOSS
Sept 26th @ WEST KELOWNA – 7pm 5-2 WIN
Oct 30th @ WEST KELOWNA – 7pm 6-2 WIN
Nov 2nd @ Wenatchee – 7:05pm 4-3 WIN
Nov 23rd @ Wenatchee – 7:05pm 6-3 LOSS
Nov 24th @ Wenatchee – 7:05pm 4-2 LOSS
WARRIORS VS WILD ROUND 1 SCHEDULE: WARRIORS LEAD BEST OF SEVEN SERIES 3-2
GAME 1 Saturday March 2nd @ Wenatchee 7:05pm LOSS 5-4
GAME 2 Sunday March 3rd @ Wenatchee 6:05pm WIN 5-1
GAME 3 Tuesday March 5th @ West Kelowna 7:00pm LOSS 6-2
GAME 4 Wednesday March 6th @ West Kelowna 7:00pm WIN 2-1 (OT)
GAME 5 Friday March 8th @ West Kelowna 7:00pm WIN 4-2
GAME 6 Sunday March 10th @ Wenatchee 8:05pm
*GAME 7 Monday March 11th @ Wenatchee 7:05pm
*if necessary
The Warriors picked up a pivotal game five 4-2 victory Friday night. There was lots of positives to take out of the game. First, it was a complete team effort for the Warriors with their depth players getting on the score sheet. Second, the Warriors once again got sensational goal tending from Connor Hopkins stopping 39 of 41 shots. The Warriors were out shot 41-23 in game 5 but they were able to neutralize the Wild of grade a scoring chances for majority of the hockey game. “We kept them to the outside”, said Head Coach and General Manager Brandon West. “When the Wild did get to the inside there was a somebody in the way getting involved in the defense”.
Tonight the Warriors have a chance to end the series with the Wild in game six. The last time the Warriors played in the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee they dominated with a 6-2 victory. It was a game where the Warriors exposed the Wild’s play in their own zone forcing numerous turnovers leading to majority of the Warriors goals. The Wild have been a lot stronger defensively since game 2 and so have the Warriors not allowing any quality scoring chances. One thing both clubs would like to work on is the man advantage. In game five the Warriors would go 1-7 on the power play and the Wild would go 1-6 on the man advantage. Both clubs would move the puck well on the power play but couldn’t get many quality opportunities to put the puck in the net. One reason is because each club is missing their power play scorers. The Warriors have been without Mike Hardman since the second period of game four. Hardman out of the lineup has created a huge hole in the Warriors top unit power play and forward Matt Dorsey has also left a big gap in the Wild top unit power play. Both clubs are looking for someone to step up and create scoring on special teams. Hardman will miss game six with injury and Matt Dorsey will serve the second of a four game suspension on Sunday.
A big question going into tonight’s game is who Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler will start between the pipes. Littler has shown he has his goaltenders on a short leash. Austin Park was pulled in game two after allowing 2 goals on 11 shots and then pulled in game three after allowing only one goal off 3 shots. Cal Sandquist looked like the guy after a couple stellar performances in games three and four, but was pulled and replaced by Park in game 5 after allowing the third Warriors goal in the final frame.
Warriors Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Chase Johnston is back on the mic with a pregame show 10 minutes before puck drop. Just a reminder that tickets are available for the first round of the BCHL playoffs at tickets.westkelownawarriors.ca.
