Photo: #14 John Evans will need to be at his best this weekend with numerous Warriors players sidelined with injury.
Photo Credit: Tami Quan Photography
October 23rd, 2020
WEST KELOWNA, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors(3-4-0-1) begin week five of the Okanagan Cup with another two game tilt versus the Vernon Vipers(2-4).
Injuries were the storyline last week and this week for the Warriors. Things started off with goaltender Zach Bennett leaving warm up during the first of a two game set with the Penticton Vees with an apparent lower body injury. Then at the end of the first period, goaltender Johnny Derrick also went down with an injury forcing the Warriors to put an already beat up Bennett back in for the remainder of the game. The Warriors would lose 7-3 and would also lose rookie blue liner Charles-Alexis Legault with an undisclosed injury.
Going into last Saturday’s game the Warriors we’re forced to bring in an emergency backup in Robbie Paialunga and start Canmore’s Jay Thomson who didn’t get much defensive support from the Warriors allowing six goals off 40 shots from the Vees. On Monday news got even worse for the Warriors finding out stout blue liner Pat Lawn is suspended for both games this weekend already putting Warriors coaching staff in a tough position with Kyle Pow and Charles-Alexis Legault out of the lineup leaving the Warriors with only 4 defenders to use.
This weekend the Warriors will face the Vernon Vipers, a club the Warriors picked up a pair of opening weekend victories in week one of the Okanagan Cup Tournament. Both Warriors goaltenders Johnny Derrick and Zach Bennett respectfully picked up victories in each start stopping 30 plus shots only allowing one goal against in each game. Warriors also got contributions from everywhere in the lineup offensively. This time around will be much different, Warriors are now without goaltenders due to injury as well as some of the new faces who’ve contributed throughout the Okanagan Cup Tournament. On the other side of the puck the Vernon Vipers are on a roll after a weekend sweep of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. It seems the moves they’ve made since their opening weekend matchup against the Warriors have paid off. Head Coach and General Manager Jason McKee made a big move including sending Brett Fudger and Colby Feist to the Cowichan Valley Capitals in exchange for centre Will Arquiett. Arquiett, 20 gives the Vipers a much needed offensive boost. Since the trade, the Vipers scored 9 goals in only 2 games played. Warriors need to expect a much different Vipers team who is only sitting 3 points behind the Warriors for second place in the Okanagan Cup Standings.
This evening’s game will be broadcast on both HockeyTV and the Warriors Mixlr Network. Puck drop at 6:00pm from Kal Tire Place in Vernon. Saturday’s game will be a 7:00pm puck drop from Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna. Both Friday and Saturday’s games will also be broadcast on the Shaw Spotlight channel. A reminder that no fans will be allowed in either building.
