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GAME RECAP: Kowalski Lifts Warriors To 3-2 Overtime Victory

PHOTO: Chris Fowler/Pure Life Photography

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUST 25th, 2018

SALMON ARM, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors led at two different points through regulation before Matt Kowalski ended the game early in overtime to pick up a 3-2 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Saturday night at the Shaw Centre.

Mason Richey scored twice in regulation before Matt Kowalski continued his strong stretch of preseason play with a goal five seconds into overtime as the Warriors swept their home-and-home preseason set with the Silverbacks.

The Warriors opened the scoring in the game just over halfway through the first period as a pair of returning players set up an incoming recruit to push West Kelowna to a lead. Chase Dubois saucered a pass to the left side for Jake Harrison who went behind the net and passed in front for Mason Richey, who tapped it behind Salmon Arm starter Justis Overby at the 10:30 mark of the frame to give the Warriors a one-goal lead.

Salmon Arm tied the game on the second half of a four-minute double minor penalty as a tic-tac-toe passing play between Johnathan Krahn and Akito Hirose was finished off by Logan Shaw to tie the game at 1-1 at the 18:13 mark of the opening frame.

The second period saw no scoring but plenty of offensive chances for each side with the goaltending standing strong through 40 minutes. Cole Demers turned aside 18 of the 19 shots he faced in his first half of the game while Berk Berkliev came on to relieve him and made 6 saves in the period.

Justis Overby started the game for Salmon Arm and made 13 saves on 14 shots before giving way to Ethan Langenegger midway through the frame as he stopped all 9 shots thrown his way in the middle stanza to keep the game knotted up 1-1 after 40 minutes.

The Warriors quickly captured their second lead of the game early into the 3rd period as just 29 seconds into the frame, it was Richey once again to put the Warriors ahead by a goal. Harrison’s point shot was deflected to the goaltender with Richey right on the doorstep for his second goal of the game and a 2-1 West Kelowna lead.

The physicality ramped up in the as the period went along and the Silverbacks were able to get the game even at the 7:49 mark of the frame with returning defender Akito Hirose finding the back of the net on a shot from the slot to get the game tied again at 2-2.

The teams played on with no one scoring in regulation to bring on 3-on-3 overtime, which didn’t last long.

Bennett Norlin pushed the opening face-off of the extra frame ahead for Matt Kowalski, who deked away from the goaltender Langenegger after coming out of his goal to the face-off circles and slid the puck into the empty goal for his 4th goal of the preseason coming just five seconds into the extra frame and gave the Warriors a 3-2 win.

The Warriors are back in action Wednesday night as they make their way to the South Okanagan to face-off against the Penticton Vees. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM at the South Okanagan Events Centre with the game being broadcasted live on the Warriors Internet Network and HockeyTV.com.

FINAL SCORE: 3-2 Warriors (OT)

SHOTS ON GOAL: 37-35 Silverbacks

WARRIORS PP: 0/2

WARRIORS PK: 5/6

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.