The West Kelowna Warriors closed out a historic home schedule with an emphatic exclamation point Friday night at Royal LePage Place.
The Warriors scored a team record seven power play goals en route to a 9-1 thumping of the visiting Victoria Grizzlies in their final home game before the playoffs begin in two weeks.
The win was their 23rd on home ice, eclipsing the record of 22 set in 2008-2009 and their 38th overall, equalling the club record last set during the RBC Cup year of 2015-2016.
They have four more games, all on the road, to break that record.
Ruslan Jamaldinov and Noah Garthe each scored two for the Warriors. Garthe had a third waved off, presumably for contact on the Grizzlies goaltender.
Alexandre Lallier had a goal and two assists while Natan Ethier, Dylan Krayer, Garrett Thom and Olivier Chan added singles.
Angelo Zol lost his bid for the league record-tying seventh shutout early in the third period.
The Warriors started slow but eventually broke through when Jamaldinov wired a backdoor one timer on a two man advantage.
Krayer drove home a one timer from the left circle on the same power play less than a minute later, and the floodgames opened from there.
Garthe from a sharp angle on another power play early in the second, Thom on a give-and-go with Max Dinneen on a two-man breakaway and Jamaldinov again from the bottom of the left circle made it 5-0 after two.
They added four more power play goals in the third as the Grizzlies were hit with a string of penalties.
This was an important win according to Krayer who has been one of the catalysts after returning to the team during training camp from the QMJHL.
“We’ve been winning recently but I wouldn’t say we’ve been playing our best hockey,” said Krayer.
“We’ve been getting outshot and outworked in some of the games.
“We tried to show up in this game with a full lineup…and we started the game good with everyone ready to go.
“And pucks were just going in tonight.”
It was also a big game in the overall standings as the Warriors climbed over idle Cowichan into the overall league lead.
They need just five points from their remaining four games to secure top spot overall and home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
“We have work to do. We want that home ice and we’re pushing for it,” said head coach Simon Ferguson.
That push will have to happen away from the friendly confines of RLP.
They hit the road for games in Nanaimo Sunday and Powell River Monday before closing out the regular season in Spruce Grove and Okotoks next Friday and Saturday respectively.
They will face either Salmon Arm or Cranbrook in the opening round after the Vernon Vipers were eliminated from contention Friday night.
The Warriors handed out their regular season hardware on the ice following the game.
Zol, who has a chance to establish team record for goals against average and save percentage to go with his club record six shutouts was named team MVP.
The 20-year-old Kelowna native has a record of 26-7 with a minuscule 1.92 goals against average and .927 save percentage.
“He’s been unbelievable. Honestly no one deserves it more because he’s the best guy off the ice,” said Krayer.
“He works hard, he’s the first guy at the rink every game and no deserves it more.”
Krayer, who has 20 goals and 54 points after the two-point effort Friday, was named the team’s top forward.
Other award winners include:
- Daxton Endicott – Most Improved
- Max Kelly – Rookie of the Year
- Jace Rask – Heart and Soul
- Caden Kemkaren-Humble – Community Minded
- Olivier Chan – Academic Award
- Blake Burke – Chaplaincy Award
- Natan Ethier – Fan Favourite
- Liam Nilsson – Top Defenceman
