Warriors come out to play |
The Westside Warriors showed that hard work trumps bad luck, felling the Prince George Spruce Kings 2-1 on Thursday night at Royal LePage Place. The Warriors, without a win in their last four, played a hard-hitting, tenacious brand of hockey and out-hustled the Kings to loose pucks all game long. With goals from Garrett Watson in the first and Jordan Gagne in the second, the Warriors had the luxury of playing with a lead for more than a few minutes ? something they haven?t experienced for a few weeks.
?That?s as close to playing a full 60 minutes as we?ve come,? Warriors general manager Mark Cheyne said after the victory. ?We needed some guys to step up, and they did.?
Though it only counts for two points in the standings, it obviously meant much more to the Warriors as they attempt to reverse their fortunes. Prince George came into Royal LePage Place tied for third place, while the sixth-place Warriors were fighting for survival in the eight-team Interior Conference. Coming off a lackluster 2-1 loss to the Vernon Vipers last Friday at Wesbild Centre, the Warriors came out hitting harder and getting all over the Spruce Kings before the visitors had a chance to get anything going. Goaltender Kevin Jebson played an outstanding game again for the Warriors, turning aside more than one point-blank scoring chance from the Kings? top line of Sean Ambrosie, Dan Correale and Sam Muchalla. Even a dead ringer off the right post in the first didn?t find its way into the mesh. Although the Warriors managed to stay out of the penalty box for most of the game, killing off a two-man Prince George power play early in the second proved to be a huge boost for the club. As so often happens, the Warriors turned the momentum and stormed right back, with Gagne?s goal being the result. The Spruce Kings (8-5-1) took advantage of clean ice at the start of the third, with Ambrosie finally sliding a wraparound effort behind Jebson to make things interesting, but solid defence from the Warriors (7-6-0-1), anchored by Anaheim Ducks draft pick Justin Schultz, kept the visitors at bay. The Warriors battled through a late Prince George power play with 1:48 to play, and with Genoe pulled for an extra skater with a minute left, the fans were biting their nails right to the end. BATTLE LINES: The Warriors scratches were Tyler Miller, Cameron Gibson, Brad Plumton and goaltender Garrett Beckwith, while Michael Nardi and Alex Allan did not suit up for the visitors. . . . In the absence of Plumton, who is away for personal reasons, the Warriors called up 16-year-old defenceman Stephan Gonzalez from the AAA midget Fraser Valley Bruins. . . . Jebson took first-star honours for a 32-save effort, while Genoe was second star, turning aside 29 shots in the loss, and Schultz was third. . . . Westside was 0-for-6 on the power play, while the visitors went 0-for-4. . . . The Warriors? next two games come on the road against the Quesnel Millionaires on Saturday and Sunday, while the Spruce Kings take on the Salmon Arm Siverbacks tonight at the Sunwave Centre.
Link: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=141431
