The West Kelowna Warriors scored 18 seconds in but that would be all in a 4-1 loss to the Merritt Centennials Friday night in West Kelowna.
Tanner Campbell got his first of the season from Quin Foremand Liam Blackburn, as Blackburn extended his franchise best point streak to 19 games.
The Centennials responded with 1 in the 1st when Tyler Ward put one past Keelan Williams off a Warriors turnover.
West Kelowna out-shot Merritt 16-5 in the first period, but Centennials came out strong in the middle frame.
Merritt got a pair of goals in the latter half of the 2nd, as Mark O’Shaughnessy made it 2-1 beating the Warriors back-check, and Gavin Gould tucked one away on the power play with 2 minutes to go in the frame.
The Warriors came on strong in the 3rd, but Cole Kehler stood tall, making 40 saves on the night in a 2nd star effort.
Colin Grannary would make it 4-1 at 9:56 on a scramble in front that the Warriors believed Williams had covered, but the persistence paid off with the goal.
The Warriors will now re-group with an off-day Saturday before they take on the Nanaimo Clippers on Sunday at 2:30. The Clippers fell 6-1 to Trail on Friday, and take on the Penticton Vees Saturday night, who have won 18 straight.
