Photo Credit: Tami Quan Photography
December 14th, 2019
WEST KELOWNA, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors Teddy Bear Toss game goes the distance with the Wild coming out on top in overtime.
The Warriors and Wild went back and forth in the first period trading a couple quality scoring chances. The best chance for the Warriors came off a two on one with Carter Wilkie and Holden Kodak but the goal was waived off because of an offsides call. The same duo would get another scoring chance with Nick Ardanaz firing a lead pass to Carter Wilkie, Wilkie would then wrap the puck around the Wild net finding an open Holden Kodak who ripped the puck top corner scoring the covetedTeddy Bear Toss goal making it 1-0. The goal would be Kodak’s first as a member of the Warriors. Late in the period the Wild would tie it up after Drew Bavaro fired a slap shot from the point beating Brock Baier to finish the first period.
The Warriors would come out strong in the second period but would allow another power play goal from the Wild after the midway mark of the frame. It would be a pass by Tyler Young to Harrison Scott who would find the open cage to give the Wild a 2-1 lead. The Warriors would go back on the attack only minutes later. Tyler Cristall would strip the puck away from a Wild defender and find John Evans beating Noah Altman to tie the game up at two. With just over a minute to go the Wild would cycle the puck inside the Warriors zone allowing Wild defender Trevor Griebel to shoot the puck off two different players and past Brock Baier to give the Wild a late 3-2 lead heading into the dressing room.
The Warriors would push hard to tie the game up late in the third period. Both goaltenders would make goal saving stops to keep it 3-2 until the Warriors sent out the extra attacker with over a minute remaining. After the Wild failed to clear the zone, Nick Ardanaz would kick the puck towards Lucas Cullen who found Carter Wilkie open making no mistake beating Noah Altman sending the game to overtime.
In the extra frame after some key puck possession inside the Wild zone the Warriors would lose the puck after Noah Altman made a key save on Wyatt Head, forcing the Warriors to hustle back with Brian Adams skating hard into the Warriors zone. Adams would make his way to the Warriors crease with a nice move beating Brock Baier winning it 4-3 in overtime.
Final shots on goal: 33-32 in favor of the Warriors.
Three Stars:
- WKW F Carter Wilkie (1G-1A)
- WEN F Brian Adams (1G)
- WKW F Holden Kodak (1G)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game:
WKW D Nick Ardanaz (1A)
The Warriors next game is Tuesday December 17th versus the Chilliwack Chiefs. Puck drop 7:00pm 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.
