Vernon, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors played spoiler on Saturday night.
A crowd of over 2500 people filed into Kal Tire Place for the Vipers 2024 Home Opener, but many left disappointed after the final buzzer, as the Warriors snuck away with the two points.
Between the pipes, Dawson Labre got his first BCHL victory, stopping 30 of 33 shots in the win. His best stop of the night came in the extra frame, when Carson McGinley got behind the defense, deked to the left, but was absolutely stoned by Labre’s right toe.
West Kelowna received regulation markers from Dylan Krayer, who scored his first two goals of the season in the first, and Cal Hughes, who banged home a beautiful cross rink pass from Frankie D’Ancona in the middle frame.
The Overtime winner for the Warriors came after Vernon held possession for about five minutes. Rookie defender Aiden Malone intercepted a Vipers centering pass, and turned on the jets, fed over for Carter Oakenfold. The two came in on a two-on-one, Oakenfold ripped it from the right faceoff circle, over the blocker of Colin Reay for his second of the season, and the game winner. Malone’s assist on the OT goal was also his first point in the BC Hockey League.
Now back above .500 for the first time this season, the Warriors begin a home-and-home series against the Smoke Eaters, beginning Friday night in Trail, with the rematch going down at Royal LePage Place on Saturday.
PHOTO: Tami Quan Photography
