PHOTO: Randy Emery/Trail Smoke Eaters
The West Kelowna Warriors wrap up exhibition play on Saturday night as they conclude a home-and-home set against the Trail Smoke Eaters on the road at Cominco Arena.
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 (3-2 Warriors/OT)
Wednesday, August 29th @ South Okanagan Events Centre vs. Penticton Vees (6-3 Vees)
Friday, August 31st @ Royal LePage Place vs. Trail Smoke Eaters (5-3 Smoke Eaters)
Saturday, September 1st @ Cominco Arena vs. Trail Smoke Eaters (7:00 PM)
Warriors vs. Smoke Eaters 2018/19 Regular Season Schedule:
Friday, September 7th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)
Saturday, September 8th @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
Saturday, October 20th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)
Saturday, January 5th @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
Friday, February 22nd @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
Saturday, February 23rd @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)
The Warriors are looking to get back in the win column and finish the preseason at an even .500 record after a 5-3 loss to Trail a night ago at Royal LePage Place. West Kelowna fell behind in the 1st period before quickly striking for three goals in a 55 second span from Parm Dhaliwal, Sam Anderson and Bennett Norlin to get ahead by a 3-2 score midway through the 2nd period. The Smoke Eaters scored twice late in the period before an empty net goal in the game’s final minute to see the game finish with a 5-3 Trail final.
West Kelowna got a strong effort from Connor Hopkins in goal, who made 28 saves on 32 shots and is expected to get the net for the Warriors for the second straight game. A large number of Warrior veterans will be in the lineup with the omission of a couple of returning players but the likes of Cavin Tilsley, Max Bulawka and Cody Paivarinta will return to the lineup after not getting in last night.
The Smoke Eaters used the strength of the man advantage to help them to the two-goal victory as Trail scored four times on the power play in the win. Mack Byers, Levi Glasman, Owen Ozar and Hayden Rowan scored power play goals while Trevor Zins was the lone Smoke Eater to find the back of the net in 5-on-5 play. Tanner Marshall started the game, making 11 saves on 14 shots before 16-year-old Logan Terness turned aside all 7 shots he faced in the 3rd period.
After sitting out a night ago, the expectation would be that 20-year-old netminder Adam Marcoux will get the nod in between the pipes for Trail. Captain Braeden Tuck, Tyler Ghirardosi and Kent Johnson will likely draw back into the lineup after being omitted from the lineup a night ago. The Smoke Eaters look to finish the preseason with a 4-2 record in their lone home game of the preseason schedule.
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.
