Photo Credit: Tami Quan Photography
March 11th, 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: BEST OF SEVEN SERIES TIED 3-3
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 LOSS 4-2
GAME 7 Monday March 11th @ Wenatchee 7:05pm
*if necessary
The Warriors were looking for a game six series win Sunday night allowing them to bus home, but the Wild had other plans. With majority of puck possession in the Warriors zone the Wild would keep the puck cycling in the West Kelowna end taking numerous shots at goaltender Connor Hopkins but the Warriors net minder stood tall keeping the game tied until midway through the third period. The Wild would find a way to break the tie with a shorthanded goal by Matt Gosiewski off a Warriors turnover to make it 2-1. Then with under three minutes to go, controversy. Lucas Cullen was sprung loose on a breakaway and would shoot the puck off the inside of the crossbar and hit what appeared to be past the goal line. The goal light would go on and Cullen would celebrate, but the play would continue after the officials waved the goal off. A minute later the play would be whistled down because of an offside allowing Brandon West to get an explanation on why the goal was disallowed, but to no avail and the Warriors would have to pull Connor Hopkins with a minute and a half remaining in the third period. The Wild would add an empty net goal and skate off with a 3-1 game 6 victory. “I don’t know if the goal was in or not”, said Head Coach and General Manager Brandon West. “The goal judge turned the light on and the officials didn’t want to talk to him. We got to turn a page and get ready for game 7 tonight.”
Tonight the Warriors will play in their first game seven in quite some time. You’ll have to really go through the history book to find that in 2011 the Warriors and Trail Smoke Eaters went the distance with the Warriors winning game seven at home advancing to the next round. Brandon West and his Warriors squad hope that history repeats itself Monday night. The Wild have done a fantastic job keeping play to the outside maintaining puck possession throughout the series and it’s time for the Warriors to start forcing the Wild to make quick decisions. If you go back to game two in the Town Toyota Centre that’s exactly what the Warriors did. They forced the rookies of the Wild to turn the puck over in their own zone a handful of times leading to Warriors goals. The intensity was in favor of the Warriors as well as they out worked the Wild in every battle and capitalized on every chance they had. It’s a pretty simple game plan but this Warriors team is confident they can beat this Wenatchee Wild squad based on effort and intensity. Head Coach and General Manager Brandon West knows that his club is motivated to play in what is the biggest game of their lives so far, “This is why you play the game. For these moments. You can sit there and watch NHL highlights but everyone remembers their game sevens. We’re missing two key players right now so we need guys to step up.”
Warriors Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Chase Johnston is back on the mic with a pregame show 10 minutes before puck drop. Catch Monday’s game and every other home and away game this season on Mixlr and Hockey TV. Just head to the Warriors website and click on the “Listen Live” column to get directed to a radio feed of each game.
