Photo Credit: Garrett James
January 30th, 2019
SURREY B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors dominate the Surrey Eagles on the big ice Wednesday 7-3.
The first period was quite contested until the Eagles had a brief couple minutes of pressure inside the Warriors zone which allowed former Trail Smoke Eater and current Captain of the Surrey Eagles Jeremy Smith to fire a knuckle puck past Connor Hopkins to make it 1-0. The Warriors are not used to the Olympic size ice inside the South Surrey Arena which they would later capitalize on late in the period. Chase Dubois was able to steal the puck in the neutral zone allowing him to create space for himself and pass the puck to the point to Andrew Viggars. Viggars then slapped the puck towards the Eagles net and off a deflection Lucas Cullen was able to tally his 23rd of the season to tie the game at one heading into the dressing room.
The second period saw a surge from the Warriors. Numerous chances from players like Willie Reim, Mike Hardman, and Bennett Norlin that beat Eagles goaltender Cayden Bailey but not the net hitting the post three times. The Warriors would solve Bailey with just over five minutes remaining in the period and it was Hendersonville Tennessee’s Lucas Bahn who scored his third of the season to make it 2-1 Warriors heading into the third period. Warriors dictated the time on attack in the second period outshooting the Eagles 15-6 during the 20 minute span.
The third period was all Warriors once again. It started with a powerplay goal by Mike Hardman to make it 3-1. Only 2 minutes later the Warriors would go on the attack with Captain Cavin Tilsley receive a pass from Bennett Norlin to extend the lead to 3. 2 minutes after that the Warriors would go on their second powerplay and it was Boston College committed Mike Hardman who would fire a one timer past Cayden Bailey to score his 32nd of the year making it 5-1 Warriors. The Eagles would push back with a pair of goals by young Brandon Santa Juana, but the Warriors would put their foot back on the gas pedal scoring another pair to make it 7-3 with goals from Bennett Norlin and Parm Dhaliwal.
Shots on goal 38-25 in favor of the Warriors.
3 Stars
- WKW F Mike Hardman (2G)
- SUR F Brandon Santa Juana (2G)
- WKW F Chase Dubois (4A)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game:
SUR F Dawson McKay
The Warriors next game is Friday night versus the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Puck drop at 7:00pm from the Shaw Centre. Catch the 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.
