Photo: #14 John Evans was recently named Alternate Captain of the Warriors for the second straight season
Photo Credit: Tami Quan Photography
November 6th, 2020
WEST KELOWNA, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors(5-4-0-1) conclude the preliminary round of the Okanagan Cup with another two game tilt versus the Salmon Arm Silverbacks(3-6-1).
It’s been over two weeks since the Warriors last took the ice as they got a much needed bye week to lick their wounds. Last week the Warriors goaltending world got turned upside down when all three Warriors goaltenders were forced to sit out with injury putting Head Coach Simon Ferguson in a tough position. Insert Kelowna Rockets goaltenders Roman Basran and Cole Schweibius. Both goaltenders played fantastic propelling the Warriors to a pair of victories with Pat Lawn, Charles Alexis Legault, Wyllum Deveaux and Felix Trudeau all out of the lineup with injury.
This week Warriors get both Johnny Derrick and Zach Bennett back between the pipes and both blue liners Pat Lawn and Charles Alexis Legault return from injury and suspension. The Warriors will also get another major boost with Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Jack Finley joining the team. Finley, 18, spent last season with the Spokane Chiefs (WHL) where he scored 57 points in 61 games played. Finley is set to return to the Chiefs for training camp December 20th.
Tonight the Warriors faceoff against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, a team that’s also improved their roster recently. Big 6’3 blue liner Mitch Brown has joined the Silverbacks from the Tri City Amercians and is used to going head to head against players like Jack Finley. The Silverbacks were also able to add an NCAA talent Zach Dubinsky. Dubinsky spent last season with RPI(NCAA) and is expected to make his Salmon Arm Silverbacks debut this weekend. The Warriors maybe healthy on the back end and in goaltending, but this Silverbacks team is motivated to get in front of both the Vipers and the Warriors for 2nd place in the Okanagan Cup standings. Warriors currently sit in 2nd spot with 11 points, Vipers sit in 3rd with 9 points and the Silverbacks sit in 4th with 7 points. With two games remaining all the Warriors need is two points to secure the 2nd spot and home ice in the Semi finals next Friday night.
This evening’s game will be broadcast on both HockeyTV and the Warriors Mixlr Network. Puck drop at 6:30pm from the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm. 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.
