West Kelowna, BC – The West Kelowna Warriors saved their best for last, as they picked up an improbable 4-3 comeback victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters on Saturday night in the final game of the BC Hockey League’s regular season.
Despite sitting a good chunk of their veteran players, the Trail Smoke Eaters still boast one of the strongest rosters in the BCHL, and they showcased that in the first half of the hockey game, going up 3-0 in the second period. Trail got a pair of powerplay goals from Zach Cotou and Jack Kennedy, as well as an even strength marker from Cade De St. Hubert to build their lead. Before the end of the second, Warriors D-man Hudson Miller found himself behind the defense and ripped a shot past the blocker of Chayse Johnson for his first BCHL goal to put West K on the board.
Six minutes into the third, the Warriors pulled within one, as Joey Macrina tipped an Axel Lofgren point shot into the back of the net to make it a 3-2 game. A few minutes later is where the wheels nearly fell off the cart for the Warriors comeback. After a non-call on a Trail trip on Warriors forward Ian Alonso, Alonso began exchanging words (and hacks) with a Smoke Eaters player on the way to the bench, resulting in a slashing penalty. Alonso also received an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty on the way to the box, putting his team short for four minutes. After three minutes of strong penalty killing, the Warriors found themselves down two men, as Captain Simon Houge was called for a cross check. The Warriors were able to withstand the onslaught from the Smoke Eaters powerplay, and kill off both penalties.
A couple of minutes later, the Warriors were able to find the equalizer, as Ian Alonso banked a puck off the back of the netminder in a scramble to tie the game at three with less than five minute remaining. The game would not require extra time, as Joey Macrina was able to steal a puck away on the forecheck, and feed Elias Callgren in the slot, who beat Johnson to the stick side with 37 seconds left in the third to give West Kelowna an unbelievable comeback victory.
The Warriors wrap up the regular season with a record of 23-24-5-2, and will begin the 2025 BCHL Playoffs on the road next weekend against the powerhouse Brooks Bandits. The full first round schedule will be released on Monday.
PHOTO: Tami Quan Photography
CUTLINE: Warriors forward Ian Alonso looks for a rebound during the third period of Saturday night’s season finale against the Trail Smoke Eaters. West Kelowna took the game 4-3.
