Photo Credit: Julie Pringle(Snap Photography)
January 5th, 2019
WEST KELOWNA B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors host the Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday night.
WARRIORS VS SMOKE EATERS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:
Sept 7th @ Trail WIN 4-3
Sept 8th @ West Kelowna LOSS 6-4
Oct 20th @ Trail WIN 4-3
Jan 5th @ West Kelowna
Feb 22nd @ West Kelowna
Feb 23rd @ Trail
The Warriors suffered a tight 4-3 loss to the Vernon Vipers last night out in Kal Tire Place. It almost seemed like a carbon copy of the Warriors December 22nd game versus the Penticton Vees, where they started slow but dominated late. Both games ended in 4-3 losses despite great efforts from the Warriors late. Warriors Assistant Coach Matt Miller wasn’t shy to call out his own players, “ We just need to be better defensively and that’s not all on our defenseman, we need to defend as a unit and protect our goaltender better. We can’t give up 20 grade A scoring chances and expect to win. It wasn’t good enough, simple as that.”
The West Kelowna Warriors will try and continue to climb the ranks in the BCHL’s Interior Division standings Saturday night when they host Chase Stevenson and the Trail Smoke Eaters. The last time the Warriors and Smoke Eaters were in action it was out in Trail on October 20th with the Warriors silencing the 1800 fans in Cominco after the Smoke Eaters blew a 2-0 first period lead picking up a 4-3 victory. It was one of the many games Warriors goal tending was strong with Connor Hopkins stopping 33 shots with the Smoke Eaters out shooting the Warriors 36-23.
This is a different looking Smoke Eaters club. They have added some much needed muscle on the back end with former Chilliwack Chiefs D man Powell Connor, and they’ve also added former Warriors forward Chase Stevenson up front. Stevenson, 19, was picked up via trade with the Surrey Eagles back in November 16th. The University of New Hampshire product is currently averaging a point a game since joining the Smoke Eaters.
Catch tonight’s game on Mixlr and Hockey TV. 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 game versus the Trail Smoke Eaters. Visit the Warriors website and select single game tickets for more details.
