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RECAP: WARRIORS COMEBACK TO DEFEAT SMOKE EATERS 4-3

Photo Credit: Tami Quan Photography

 

OCTOBER 20th, 2018

 

TRAIL B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors pick up another two points, this time in hostile territory out in Trail.

 

1st Period: The Warriors got caught on their heels throughout the first period giving the puck away twice that led to Smoke Eaters goals. First was a giveaway up the middle to forward Mack Byers that made no mistake giving the Smoke Eaters a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the game. Smoke Eaters would continue their momentum spending majority of the final ten minutes of the first in the Warriors end. With 3 minutes to go some great forechecking from the Smoke Eaters lead to another turnover and rookie Bryce Anderson scoring his first of the season giving Trail the 2-0 lead going into the dressing room. Shots on goal after one, 15-8 Smoke Eaters.

 

2nd Period: The second period didn’t start well for the Warriors with Cavin Tilsley being called for unsportsmanlike conduct leading to a Smoke Eaters powerplay. Only seconds after the Warriors killed the penalty Bennett Norlin received a pass from Mike Hardman allowing him to place a wrist shot past Tanner Marshall getting the Warriors on the board. Eight minutes later the Warriors would capitalize on a Smoke Eaters giveaway as Kyle Chernenkoff would throw a pass up the middle that found the stick of Eric Olson, and a drop pass to Mike Hardman allowed the Union College commit to tie the game up at two to finish up the second period. Shots on goal after two periods, 27-17 Smoke Eaters.

 

3rd Period: The third period was contested until the final 10 minutes when Smoke Eaters defenseman Jimmy Darby was ejected out of the game for a head contact penalty plus unsportsmanlike leading to a Warriors two man advantage. Seconds into the two man advantage Mike Hardman scored his second of the evening off a Wyatt Head pass giving the Warriors the lead. Since the goal was scored on the two man advantage the Warriors had another opportunity on the Kal Tire power play, that’s when the second power play unit would score the Warriors fourth unanswered goal of the night courtesy of Willie Reim off a Max Bulawka feed near the hash marks. The Smoke Eaters would have under eight minutes to score two goals. Forcing pressure in the offensive zone Smoke Eaters defenseman Jeremy Smith had a one time opportunity that was blocked by a diving Cavin Tilsley. Tilsley would end up receiving the shot towards his neck which took him out of the game. His current status is unknown. That play by Tilsley gave the Warriors the extra spark they needed to kill extra time off the clock. The Smoke Eaters would cut the lead to one late thanks to a late Kent Johnson goal but it wasn’t enough as Connor Hopkins and the Warriors would escape with another two points going two for two this weekend.

3 Stars:

  1. WKW   F Mike Hardman  (2G-1A)
  2. TRA    F Mack Byers      (1G)
  3. WKW   G Connor Hopkins   (33 Saves)

Fortis Energy Player of the Game:

TRA     D Trevor Zins    (0G-1A)

The Warriors next home game is next Friday night versus the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Puck drop at 7pm from Royal LePage Place. Catch Friday’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.