Photo Credit: Lisa Mazurek Photography
February 15th, 2020
VERNON, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors hot start still wasn’t enough Saturday as the Vernon Vipers came back to sting the Warriors by a score of 4-2.
One of the many storylines going into tonight’s game was the head to head battle between rookie John Evans and Vernon Vipers forward Dawson Holt who came into tonight’s game tied for the BCHL lead with 4 shorthanded goals each. Evans threw the first punch after he was able to steal the puck at the point and score a shorthanded breakaway goal to make it 1-0 Warriors after one. Late in the period Holden Kodak would fire a sharp angle shot which would redirect of a stick and hit Vipers forward Jojo Tanaka-Campbell in the face sending him bloody to the dressing room. Tanaka-Campbell did not return to the game.
The Vipers came out strong in the second period with a flurry of scoring chances. During a Vipers power play a failed clearing by the Warriors led to Dawson Holt backhanding a puck passed Johnny Derrick to even things up at one. The Warriors got in trouble again this time while on their own power play. After Skyler Cameron was unable to hold the puck in the Vipers zone Dawson Holt would spring loose on a shorthanded breakaway but Johnny Derrick would make a huge save stopping 17 of 18 shots in the second period alone.
With the game tied up at one a piece in the third, it was obvious both clubs didn’t want to make any mistakes. The Warriors have played a number of close games late and have failed to come out with points. After what was a great start for the Warriors a bad bounce would create an odd man rush for the Vipers allowing Logan Cash to go in and score to make it 2-1 Vipers. Then controversy after the midway point of the period. With the Warriors buzzing inside the Vipers zone, a hit from behind on Colby Elmer was never called and the Vipers would go in all alone on a four on one allowing Christian Felton to add an insurance tally making it 3-1 Vipers. Carter Wilkie would score a goal late to cut the lead and make it interesting but the speedy Dawson Holt would add an empty netter sealing it for the Vipers with a 4-2 victory. The Warriors also got bad news with the Prince George Spruce Kings defeating the Langley Rivermen extending their gap in the standings to 5 points with only 3 games remaining in the regular season schedule.
Final shots on goal: 34-25 in favor of the Vipers.
Three Stars:
- VER F Dawson Holt (2G)
- VER F Max Bulawka (2A)
- VER F Matt Kowalski (2A)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game:
VER F Logan Cash (1G)
The Warriors next game is Monday February 17th versus the Trail Smoke Eaters. Puck drop 2:30pm from Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna. This game will be streamed on Hockey TV and will be broadcast on the Warriors radio network on Mixlr.
