Photo Credit: Tami Quan Photography
August 25th, 2019
SALMON ARM, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors picked up their first victory of the 2019-2020 exhibition campaign after a wild overtime finish with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Expectations lived up for this game with Head Coach and General Manager Brandon West dressing some of his veterans including the likes of Parm Dhaliwal, Lucas Cullen, Mason Richey and Brandon Dent and only 33 seconds into the game it was Dent who got things started with a quick wrist shot beating Tanner Martin to make it 1-0. Less than five minutes later the Warriors would get their veterans going with Lucas Cullen capitalizing on a tic tac toe feed with Parm Dhaliwal and Mason Richey to extend the lead to a pair. The Warriors would continue the pressure in the Silverbacks end with a pair of goals from Cole Wyatt and Mason Richey to make it 4-0 Warriors. Silverbacks would get on the board with under five minutes to go with a goal from Daniel Rybarik to cut the lead to 3 heading into the dressing room.
The Warriors would extend their lead back to four goals in the second period thanks to a nifty pass from Gavin Pushkar to Cole Wyatt allowing Wyatt to tally his second of the hockey game to make it 5-1. The Silverbacks however, didn’t quit, maintaining pressure in the Warriors zone throughout the second frame scoring a trio of goals to cut the lead to only one goal after two periods. Silverbacks would score goals courtesy of Hunter Sansbury, Jayden Price and a second goal from Daniel Rybarik in the final minute of the second.
The third period started the same way the second period finished for the Warriors with Silverbacks Jayden Price scoring his second of the game to tie it up at 5. The Warriors would push back late but Silverbacks goaltender Ethan Langenegger stood tall to force the game into overtime.
The Warriors started the extra frame with puck control and after the Silverbacks Hunter Sansbury slashed Lucas Cullen stick out of his hands, the Warriors would get a much needed powerplay. In the extra frame Head Coach and General Manager Brandon West utilized young defender Nick Ardanaz alongside vets Lucas Cullen, Parm Dhaliwal and Mason Richey. It was Ardanaz who moved the puck well creating the scoring opportunity for Lucas Cullen. After a failed attempt for Cullen, Mason Richey had the goal on his stick making no mistake beating Ethan Langenegger and winning the hockey game for the Warriors.
The Warriors next Exhibition game is on the road next Wednesday versus the Penticton Vees. Puck drop 6:30pm from the South Okanagan Events Centre. This game will be streamed on Hockey TV and will be broadcast on the Warriors radio network on Mixlr.
The Warriors regular season opener is Friday September 6th, visit tickets.westkelownawarriors.ca for details and packages.
