Photo Credit: Garrett James
February 19th, 2019
WEST KELOWNA B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors(27-27-0-1) cap off their season series with the Merritt Centennials(33-15-4-3) Tuesday night.
WARRIORS VS CENTENNIALS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:
Friday October 12th @ Merritt 7:00pm LOSS 8-4
Sunday November 11th @ Merritt 2:00pm LOSS 8-3
Friday December 7th VS Merritt 7:00pm LOSS 5-4
Friday December 14th VS Merritt 7:00pm WIN 6-3
Friday January 11th @ Merritt 7:00pm WIN 4-3 OT
Tuesday February 19th VS Merritt 7:00pm
The Warriors are coming off their more controversial games of the season losing 7-5 to the Vernon Vipers. The Warriors were holding on to a 5-4 victory with only five minutes remaining in the third period, and then after a Vipers power play goal tied it up an extra penalty was assessed to Anthony Bishop because he had his helmet off during the play. The Vipers would score another power play goal to take the lead and eventually win the game 7-5. “I saw what we thought we saw, and I’m disappointed”, said Warriors Head Coach and General Manager Brandon West. “I thought that was a playoff type game, but 7-5 isn’t probably not going to get it done in playoffs. Every game is a must win right now, I think we are playing at a high level but I just feel that the hockey gods are just not on our side right now. We as coaches need to find some positives and negatives in the video and go to work”.
Tonight the Warriors host the Merritt Centennials, a club they’ve had some success with as of late. The Warriors have won their last two games head to head, most recently a 4-3 overtime win in Merritt. It was a game where the Warriors exposed the Cents weaknesses and took advantage of defensive breakdowns and odd man rushes. But that was then and this is now, and unlike the Warriors who have lost 6 of their past 7 games, the Centennials have won 6 of their past 7 games and don’t seem to stop anytime soon. The Centennials are currently sitting only two points back from the Penticton Vees for the top spot in the BCHL’s Interior Division standings, so the Cents are more motivated than ever to pick up two points.
The Warriors are currently sitting in 6th place in the Interior Division with 55 points. 4 points behind the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and 1 point ahead of the Trail Smoke Eaters. The Merritt Centennials are currently sitting in 2nd in the Interior Division, 2 points behind the Penticton Vees, and 7 points ahead of the Wenatchee Wild.
Warriors Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Chase Johnston is back on the mic with a pregame show 10 minutes before puck drop. Just a reminder that tickets are still available for tonight’s matchup versus the Merritt Centennials. Visit the Warriors website and select single game tickets for more details.
