PHOTO: Chris Fowler/Pure Life Photography
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 22nd, 2017
SALMON ARM, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors couldn’t get enough offense as they dropped just their 5th game of the season by a 3-1 score against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks from the Shaw Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Michael Lombardi scored his first goal as a Warrior while Nik Amundrud turned aside 33 of the 36 shots he faced but it would be the goaltending of AP starter Ethan Langenegger that stole the show with 36 saves in his first career BCHL start.
The first period of the game saw no goals from either side as the goaltenders shined in the opening frame. Amundrud was strong early on with 14 saves in the opening frame of play while Langenegger matched his performance with 9 saves of his own to keep the opening 20 minutes at a scoreless draw.
The Silverbacks struck first blood in the game at the 4:57 mark of the 2nd period, Marcus Mitchell broke the scoreless deadlock. The play started on the right-wing side with Rhett Kingston centering a pass that was intended for Logan Mostat but found it’s way to Mitchell who beat Amundrud on the blocker side for a 1-0 Silverbacks lead.
Salmon Arm opened up a two-goal advantage at the 12:29 mark of the 2nd period and came via a Silverbacks power play. Julian Timba moved in with the puck from the midpoint and passed from the left-wing face-off circle across to the right side for an open Noah Wakeford who beat Amundrud sliding across to his left for a 2-0 Silverback lead.
The Warriors got on the scoreboard before the period was out at the 14:40 mark of the middle stanza as Michael Lombardi tallied his first goal as a Warrior. Nathan Reilly stretched a pass from his own zone that connected with Max Bulawka at the Salmon Arm blue line. Bulawka moved in on a 2-on-0 and passed blocker side to Lombardi who made no mistake for his 3rd goal of the season and a 2-1 game heading into the 3rd period.
Despite putting 18 shots on goal in the final period, the Warriors weren’t able to beat Langenegger and it would be the Silverbacks scoring the lone 3rd period marker. At the 17:24 mark, on another Salmon Arm power play, Kingston corralled the puck and wristed a shot past the glove of Amundrud that gave the Silverbacks a 3-1 win, which ended as the final score.
The 20-year-old Nik Amundrud was very good in the Warriors crease, turning aside 33 of the 36 shots he faced in his 5th loss of the season while the AP netminder Ethan Langenegger was outstanding in the Silverbacks crease with 36 saves on 37 shots for his first career BCHL win.
FINAL SCORE: 3-1 Silverbacks
FINAL SHOTS ON GOAL: 37-36 Warriors
Warriors PP: 0/5
Warriors PK: 3/5
3 Stars:
1) Ethan Langenegger (36 saves on 37 shots)
2) Rhett Kingston (1-1-2)
3) Nik Amundrud (33 saves on 36 shots)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game: Noah Wakeford (1-0-1)
ATTENDANCE: 785
The Warriors (11-5-0-0) will have six days between games before they take on the Vernon Vipers (10-4-2-0) on Saturday, October 28th at Kal Tire Place for the first meeting of the season between the two squads. Puck drop is slated for 6:00 PM with the pre-game starting at 5:45 PM on the Warriors Internet Network and HockeyTV.com with the Voice of the Warriors, Trevor Miller.
The Warriors have introduced a new Fan’tatstic Five ticket package that gives fans a chance to experience five of the most highly anticipated games of the season for just $55.55 with games against the Wenatchee Wild, Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Vernon Vipers and Victoria Grizzlies. For more information on these packs and all ticket info, visit the Warriors office or call (250) 769-7051.
