The Warriors got out-scored by the Merritt Centennials in a 8-6 loss at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
The Warriors opened the scoring with a great shot from Jonathan Desbiens (18th) at 8:20 of the 1st period, but the Centennials responded just 1:27 later as Zak Bowles got a favourable bounce off a skate to tie the game.
West Kelowna went up 3-1 on goals from Rylan Yaremko and Brett Mennear’s 9th each of the season.
The Centennials got within 1 as Zack Zorn potted a puck off the end boards past Keelan Williams, but the Warriors responded to take a 2-goal lead on the power play late in the frame.
Garrett Forster’s point shot got through traffic and beat Cole Kehler to make it 4-2 after 20 minutes.
The scoring didn’t stop there, as the Centennials scored twice in 1:37 to open the 2nd period, as Gavin Gould made it 4-3 right before Nick Jermain scored on the power play to tie the game.
Lane Gilliss would bury a rebound for his 1st BCHL goal after a great shot from Reed Gunville was kicked out to Gilliss.
Merritt chased Williams with a goal at 9:05 directly off the face-off, as Brett Clark made his Warrior debut as the score was tied at 5.
The Centennials took the lead 5:38 into the 3rd period as Jermain completed the hat-trick with a deflection over Clark.
West Kelowna tied the game up again at 12:08, as Liam Blackburn knotted it at 6 beating Kehler in tight.
The Game winner came right off a face-off play with 3:54 remaining, as Ryan Coghlan hammered one into the Warriors net, before Henry Cleghorn sealed the game with an empty netter.
The Warriors out-shot Merritt by a 38-37 margin.
West Kelowna hits the road next week to take on Alberni Valley, Nanaimo, and Victoria.
