Westside a road Warrior
By Chris Stanford
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Westside Warriors may have been excused for being a bit flat, coming off a hard-fought win against the Millionaires the night before, but they were having none of that last night. Instead, they took it to the Vernon Vipers early in their game at Wesbild Centre. Without a win against their North Okanagan rivals in their three previous meetings this season, the Warriors looked to be motivated to turn things around, and put on a solid team performance, combining scoring on all fronts with tough defence and great oaltending to ice the Vipers 5-2.
As happened the night before, the Warriors struck first, jumping to an early lead off a Craig Eisenhut power-play goal at 7:19 into the first. His first marker since since his return to action one game ago, Eisenhut had help from Brett Lyon and Brendan Ellis. Eisenhut?s offensive contribution seemed to light a spark in the Warriors and, despite an answering goal, again on a power play, from the Vipers? Sahir Gill just shy of three minutes into the second, the Warriors looked better able to contain the Snakes than in their previous tussles. Two unanswered goals from Jordan Gagne and Brad Plumton sent the visitors into the dressing room up 3-1 after 40 minutes of good junior hockey, and kept momentum with the Warriors. Looking for what may very well be their most important win so far this season, the Warriors kept the pressure on early in the third, with goaltender Kevin Jebson again providing solid play. Garrett Watson converted a Ron Kelly pass for a shorthanded beauty, and another great effort from Kyle Singleton a minute later iced the deal for the Warriors. That was it for the Vipers starting goalie Andrew Hammond, who was pulled in favour of Graeme Gordon. Despite a late marker from Braden Pimm with 5:30 left, the Warriors comfortably hung on for a big two points.
?We had a game plan and we stuck to it,? said Warriors assistant coach James Eccles. ?When you gain the neutral zone, you control the offence, and we did that tonight.?
Watson got first star honours with his goal and a pair of assists, while Plumton was second star and Gill third. The Warriors host Trail tonight while the Vipers welcome Victoria to Wesbild Centre.
