The West Kelowna Warriors (25-16-4-0) welcome the Merritt Centennials (11-28-3-2) for their second matchup in six days with a Sunday matinee at Royal LePage Place.
REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE VS. MERRITT
Saturday, November 5th @ Nicola Valley Memorial Arena (8-1 Warriors) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, January 14th @ Nicola Valley Memorial Arena (6-4 Warriors) (BOXSCORE)
Wednesday, January 25th @ Royal LePage Place (4-3 Warriors/SO) (BOXSCORE)
Monday, February 20th @ Royal LePage Place (9-1 Warriors) (BOXSCORE)
Sunday, February 26th @ Royal LePage Place (2:30 PM)
Saturday, March 4th @ Nicola Valley Memorial Arena (7:00 PM)
Friday, March 24th @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
West Kelowna increased their home winning streak to seven games on Friday night in a wild 6-5 overtime victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters at Royal LePage Place. Jaiden Moriello scored twice, including the overtime winner, while Chris Duclair, Isaiah Norlin, Riley Sharun and Rylee Hlusiak added singles in the victory. Cayden Hamming started the game, making 20 saves on 24 shots before being relieved by Angelo Zol, who made 6 saves on 7 shots and earned his 6th win of the season.
The Warriors will take on the Centennials just six days after putting up a season-high nine goals in a 9-1 triumph on Family Day on Monday afternoon at Royal LePage Place. Riley Sharun and Luke Devlin each found the back of the net twice while Rylee Hlusiak, Chris Duclair, Brennan Nelson and Michael Salandra added singles in the win. Cayden Hamming got the nod in goal, turning aside 12 of the 13 shots thrown his way for the win in between the pipes.
Warriors Leading Scorers:
Jaiden Moriello (23-20-43)
Ben MacDonald (18-20-38)
Rylee Hlusiak (14-23-37)
Isaiah Norlin (4-31-35)
Michael Salandra (14-18-32)
It’s been a torrid pace of scoring over the last four games, holding multiple points in each of those contests. The University of Massachusetts-Lowell commit has 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points during his four-game point streak including his overtime goal on Friday night which tied for the fastest goal to be scored in overtime in franchise history just 9 seconds into OT. The Saugus, Massachusetts native has vaulted his way into the BC Hockey Legaue’s top 20 in scoring and has been strong against the Centennials this season, posting 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points in 4 games against Merritt.
After a four-point night came from Michael Salandra in the last meeting between Merritt and West Kelowna six days ago, defender Isaiah Norlin decided the next game was a good time to replicate that performance as he posted a goal and three assists in the win on Friday. The Clarkson University commit has registered 6 points in his last two games, following a two-assist night against Merritt on Monday and now sits 3rd in the league in assists from blueliners with his 31 on the season, trailing only Nanaimo’s Ethan Mistry and Chilliwack’s Abram Wiebe.
Another game gone by and another goal from veteran forward Riley Sharun, who has tallied in three consecutive games and four of his last five games entering Sunday afternoon. The West Kelowna, BC native has notched 6 goals and 2 assists for 8 points over his last five games, including posting multi-point games in each of his last three contests. Sharun has now posted a career-high 9 goals on this current stretch, besting his previous total of 6 from last season.
The Merritt Centennials enter play on Sunday in the third game of their three-game weekend following a 3-1 loss to the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday night at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Jackson Krill scored the lone Centennials goal in the game while Conor Sullivan stopped 39 of the 41 shots thrown his way in his 13th loss of the season.
Centennials Scoring Leaders:
Jaxson Murray (18-23-41)
Jackson Krill (17-17-34)
Christian Lowe (12-17-29)
Connor Farren (6-10-16)
Diego Johnson (9-6-15)
The lone goal in Saturday night’s contest for the Centennials came from Vermont University commit Jackson Krill, who extended his point streak to six games with the marker. Krill, a Port Moody, BC native, will suit up in his 99th career BCHL game this afternoon and has registered 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points over his six consecutive games with a point. Over his previous 98 games in the league, Krill has amassed 24 goals and 21 assists for 45 points between the Centennials and Trail Smoke Eaters.
Wrapping up a tough weekend of three games in three days this afternoon in West Kelowna, the Centennials have one of the toughest schedules down the stretch to conclude their regular season. Merritt will see West Kelowna three more times (including tonight) while also playing the BCHL-best Penticton Vees another three times as well. The Centennials will see the Wenatchee Wild two more times following their matchup on Saturday night and conclude the season at home against the Vernon Vipers.
The Warriors and Centennials play the fifth of their seven-game season series this afternoon in West Kelowna with puck drop slated for 2:30 PM from Royal LePage Place. Tickets are available for purchase at the Warriors Office as well as online at westkelownawarriors.ca.
Playoff ticket packages are now available for purchase ahead of the 2023 Warriors playoffs! Packages are priced at $128/adult, $104/seniors & students and $64/child and based on an eight-game basis. Get yours today by completing this form! Packages are available until Friday, March 10th.
