Photo Credit: Julie Pringle(Snap Photography)
December 1st, 2018
DUNCAN B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors fall to the Cowichan Capitals 4-1 Saturday night.
The Warriors started the game quite slow compared to the game a night before in Nanaimo. It took over five minutes for the Warriors to record their first shot on goal, and time on attack was spent mainly inside the West Kelowna end. Warriors goaltender Connor Hopkins was playing quite sharp until a Wyatt Head turnover allowed for Preston Brodziak to steal the puck inside the attacking zone and give Jordan Robert the Teddy Bear toss goal in Duncan. Cowichan would get caught in their own zone only a couple minutes later taking a penalty leading to a Warriors power play. The Warriors powerplay has been lacking in the scoring department lately but the line up Cavin Tilsley, Willie Reim and Bennett Norlin were able to end the drought. It was Lucas Bahn who was able to feed Willie Reim on the right side circle and the shot was deflected off the stick of Bennett Norlin to tie the game up at one going into the first intermission.
The Warriors came out strong in the second period with numerous chances in the Cowichan end, but Capitals goaltender Jack Grant was able to make a couple great saves keeping the game tied up at one. It looked as if the Warriors were the better team in the second but an Austin Chorney double minor forced the Warriors to play shorthanded for a full 4 minutes. This allowed for the Capitals Adam Conquest to load up a wrist shot through traffic and it was 2-1 after the second period.
The Warriors needed a push in the third period, but found themselves caught in their own zone once again. The Capitals turned the puck over allowing seventh defenseman Timber Lewis to wire a slap shot which deflected off a Warriors player and past Connor Hopkins to make it 3-1. The Warriors would respond by throwing everything they could at Jack Grant but the Caps goalie was rock solid, not allowing any rebounds and making sure his defensemen had space if he was to play the puck. The Warriors would take a penalty late in the game giving the Capitals a power play goal finishing it off. Despite out shooting the Capitals 39-32, the Warriors would skate off with a 4-1 loss.
3 Stars
- COW F Adam Conquest (1G-1A)
- COW G Jack Grant (38 Saves)
- WKW F Bennett Norlin (1A)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game:
COW F Dan McIntyre
The Warriors next game is Sunday afternoon versus the Victoria Grizzlies. Puck drop at 2:00pm from the Q Centre in Victoria. Catch Sunday’s game and every other home and away game this season on Mixlr and Hockey TV. Just head to the Warriors website and click on the “Listen Live” column to get directed to a radio feed of each game.
