PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors got a 3rd period goal from Luke Devlin to help them snap a four-game losing streak in a 4-3 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings on Saturday night at Kopar Memorial Arena.
After a game that featured just three goals through 60 minutes of play a night ago, the 1st period was a much different story on Saturday night as Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero got the visitors out to a strong start just 2:08 into the 1st period.
Chris Duclair created the space for the Warriors in the offensive zone, bringing the puck from the left wing face-off circle behind the net and all the way around to the right dot before sending a cross ice pass to Van Houtte-Cachero as the Warriiors second year forward caught the puck and fired a shot past the blocker side of Spruce Kings goaltender Jordan Fairlie for a 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the game.
West Kelowna found themselves in penalty trouble and Prince George took advantage on a 5-on-3 power play with Austin Fraser scoring his third consecutive goal of the weekend set. John Herrington had his point shot stopped by Warriors goaltender Justin Katz before the rebound was centered from below the goal line by Killian McGregor-Bennett for Fraser in front who potted the tying goal at the 5:16 mark to even the score at 1-1.
46 seconds after getting the game tied, the Spruce Kings took their first lead of the game on the same power play and came in the way of Jake Schneider. A puck battle behind the net saw Jack Stockfish pry the puck free and bring it to the front of the net where he was stopped by Katz on the attempt from the slot before Schneider banged in the rebound on the glove side to give Prince George a 2-1 lead at the 6:02 mark of the opening period.
A busy 1st period was capped with Riley Sharun getting the game back on even terms with his 2nd goal of the season to make it a 2-2 game with 3:56 remaining in the opening frame. The Warriors stretched the play from their own zone and got the puck to Sharun on the left wing as he got in across the blue line and wired a shot past the glove side of Fairlie for his 2nd goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the 2nd period.
It took the Warriors just 15 seconds into the middle frame to get their second lead of the game as the Prince George native, Aiden Reeves, gave the Warriors a one-goal lead. Jaiden Moriello slung a pass from the left face-off circle to the right side where Reeves placed a perfect shot under the blocker side of Fairlie for his 2nd goal of the season and pushed West Kelowna ahead by a 3-2 score.
The Spruce Kings, once again, had an answer with Schneider scoring his second goal of the night at the 5:04 mark of the middle stanza. Schneider crossed the blue line and sent a shot to the net from inside the zone that eluded the glove of Katz and evened the score once again at 3-3 before heading into the final period of play.
West Kelowna earned a 5-on-3 opportunity of their own in the final period and after that expired to a one-man advantage, the Warriors were able to take the lead again. The Spruce Kings attempted to clear the puck but hit one of their own players before Isaiah Norlin collected the loose puck and sent a shot to the net that was deflected by Luke Devlin over the shoulder of Fairlie for his 3rd goal of the season and a 4-3 Warriors lead at 6:34 of the 3rd period.
Justin Katz continued a strong night with making some impressive saves in the final period, including a big stick save following the go-ahead marker. Katz mishandled the puck behind the net with a shot coming from the slot and Katz sprawling in the crease to deny the chance with his stick and keep the Warriors ahead by a goal.
Katz and the Warriors were able to keep the Spruce Kings at bay and hang on for the 4-3 triumph. Katz made 27 saves on 30 shots in his 11th win of the season while Jordan Fairlie stopped 22 of the 26 shots thrown his way in his 4th loss of the season.
FINAL SCORE: 4-3 Warriors
SHOTS ON GOAL: 30-26 Spruce Kings
WARRIORS PP: 1/6
WARRIORS PK: 4/6
3 STARS:
1) Aiden Reeves (1-0-1)
2) Jake Schneider (2-0-2)
3) Isaiah Norlin (0-1-1)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game: Colton Cameron (0-0-0)
Attendance: 712
The Warriors (13-6-2-0) return home for a big night as they host their Teddy Bear Toss on Friday, December 2nd and host the Vernon Vipers (9-10-0-3) at Royal LePage Place. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM as fans are encouraged to bring a new or gently used stuffed animal to the game to toss on the ice following the Warriors first goal of the game. Tickets are available for purchase online at westkelownawarriors.ca as well as in-person at the Box Office.
