Photo Credit: Garrett James
February 16th, 2019
WEST KELOWNA B.C. – The Vernon Vipers defeat the West Kelowna Warriors for the fifth time this season by a score of 7-5.
You couldn’t of scripted a better start for the Warriors. First Vernon Vipers announced two scratches due to injury – Lane Zablocki and Josh Latta. Then the Vipers would flip their starting goaltender from Aiden Porter to Bradley Cooper. This would lead to a quick pair of goals for the Warriors. First it was a shot from Lucas Bahn at the point which would be tipped by Max Bulawka just as the Vipers penalty expired to make it 1-0. Then only 38 seconds later the Warriors 4th line would forced a turnover in the attacking zone allowing Quinton Waitzner to feed a wide open Brandon Dent to score his 5th of the season to make it 2-0. That would be the end of the evening for Bradley Cooper who was quickly replaced by Aiden Porter between the pipes. The lead would be short lived with the Vipers scoring a pair of their own. Connor Marritt was able to beat Brock Baier high glove to get the Vipers on the board. Then it would be Ben Sanderson with under a minute to go tying it up at two thanks to great puck movement from Vipers veteran forwards Jesse Lansdell and Jagger Williamson.
The Vipers would start off the second period on the penalty kill. After a couple great stops from Aiden Porter the Vipers would move the puck well in the attacking zone with relentless pressure. After three chances to clear the puck out of their zone, the Warriors found themselves in a vulnerable position leading to an Elan Bar Lev Wise goal to give the Vipers a 3-2 lead. An unlikely name would answer back for the Warriors and it would be 4th liner Mason Richey would was able to redirect another Lucas Bahn point shot beating Aiden Porter tying the game up at 3. Just when the Warriors thought they had any momentum going after the tying goal the Vipers would go on the attack and an ugly shot from Logan Cash behind the net would go off Brock Baier and in to make it 4-3 for the Vernon Vipers.
The Warriors needed a push in the third period and they got it from two of their goal scorers. First it was Mike Hardman who rushed end to end and roofed one top corner to tie the game at 4. Then with 7 minutes remaining in the third Quinton Waitzner was able to feed Max Bulawka behind the net in the attacking zone which led to Bulawka feeding Willie Reim who scored his 24th of the season to make it 5-4. Then with under 5 minutes to go Lucas Cullen would be called for hooking putting the Vipers on the power play. This is where one of the more controversial calls of the season came. During the Vipers man advantage, Warriors defender Anthony Bishop lost his helmet. Bishop would then go and grab his helmet to place it back on his head, but the Vipers would take advantage and tie the game at 5. After the goal there was a conference between the officials. They officials decided to penalize Anthony Bishop for playing without his helmet on which put the Vipers on another power play. What the officials didn’t do was just blow the whistle and place the Vipers on a two man advantage. Instead the officials credited the goal and then placed the Vipers on another power play allowing Jesse Lansdell to make it 6-5. Vipers forward Teddy Wooding would add another goal late to make it 7-5 and eventually would put the game out of reach.
Shots on goal 45-28 in favor of the Vipers.
3 Stars
- WKW F Quinton Waitzner (3A)
- VER F Matt Kowalski (2A)
- WKW F Max Bulawka (1G-1A)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game:
WKW D Lucas Bahn (2A)
The Warriors next game is Tuesday night versus the Merritt Centennials. Puck drop at 7:00pm from Royal LePage Place. Catch Tuesday’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.
