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GAME PREVIEW: Warriors Conclude Home-And-Home In Salmon Arm

PHOTO: Lorne White/KelownaNow

The West Kelowna Warriors head on the road for the first time in the preseason as they make their way to the Shuswap for the back half of a weekend home-and-home set with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Saturday night at the Shaw Centre.

Warriors Exhibition Schedule:

Wednesday, August 22nd @ Royal LePage Place vs. Penticton Vees (3-1 Vees)

Friday, August 24th @ Royal LePage Place vs. Salmon Arm Silverbacks (8-2 Warriors)

Saturday, August 25th @ Shaw Centre vs. Salmon Arm Silverbacks (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, August 29th @ South Okanagan Events Centre vs. Penticton Vees (7:00 PM)

Friday, August 31st @ Royal LePage Place vs. Trail Smoke Eaters (7:00 PM)

Saturday, September 1st @ Cominco Arena vs. Trail Smoke Eaters (7:00 PM)

 

Warriors vs. Silverbacks 2018/19 Regular Season Schedule:

Friday, September 28th @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)

Saturday, September 29th @ Shaw Centre (7:00 PM)

Friday, October 5th @ Shaw Centre (7:00 PM)

Friday, October 26th @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)

Friday, February 1st @ Shaw Centre (7:00 PM)

Saturday, February 2nd @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)

A veteran-lead group helped the Warriors to their first preseason victory on Friday night at Royal LePage Place with an 8-2 win over the Silverbacks. Returning forward and three-year BCHL veteran Matt Kowalski scored a hat-trick in the game while Parm Dhaliwal added a pair of goals and three points in the triumph. Chase Dubois also had a big night with a goal and two assists while Lane Goodwin hit the score sheet twice with a goal and an assist as well as Tyler Pang finding the back of the net. Connor Hopkins made 11 saves on 13 shots before Hayden Missler made 13 saves in the win.

The lineup for the Warriors features some returning players once again in likes of Chase Dubois, Max Bulawka, Matt Kowalski, Bennett Norlin, Jake Harrison and Wyatt Head. Each of Dubois, Bulawka, Kowalski and Head are appearing in their second game of the preseason after a showing last night. Cole Demers will start the game between the pipes for the Warriors, another returnee from last year’s squad while Calgary Buffaloes Midget AAA netminder Berk Berkeliev will back up in the game.

The Silverbacks opened the scoring a night ago but a four-goal first period from the Warriors was too much to overcome. Hayden Dick and returning forward Trevor Adams provided the scoring for Salmon Arm while Jordan Fairlie turned aside 9 of the 15 shots he faced before handing off to Andrew Slobiski, who made 10 of 12 saves in the game.

Heading back home, Salmon Arm will be likely to dress more veterans in their lineup than the five they had from last night, especially as the preseason makes its way closer to the regular season of play.  The Silverbacks will close out their preseason schedule with a home-and-home against the Vernon Vipers before opening the regular season at the Shaw Centre against the Merritt Centennials.

The Warriors and Silverbacks will drop the puck at 7:00 PM from the Shaw Centre with the game being broadcasted live on the Warriors Internet Network as well as HockeyTV.com. West Kelowna continues their exhibition schedule with a clash against the Penticton Vees on Wednesday night in the South Okanagan.

Season tickets are now on sale for the upcoming 2018/19 season, which is set to begin Friday, September 7th before heading to Royal LePage Place to host the Trail Smoke Eaters in their home opener on Saturday, September 8th. Head to the Warriors newly renovated office to check in on ticket details.