Photo: Blue liner #6 Pat Lawn will be relied upon against the red hot Victoria Grizzlies offense Friday afternoon.
Photo Credit: Timothy Matwey Photography
October 22nd. 2021
WEST KELOWNA B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors travel to Chilliwack for the return of the BCHL Showcase Friday.
The Warriors are coming off a good road trip last weekend winning two out of three games. It was a road trip that saw mostly highs but some serious lows on the final day. First the Warriors were able to end their curse inside Cominco arena in Trail defeating the Smoke Eaters for the first time since October 2018 by a score of 5-4. Then the Warriors would pick up a 4-1 victory over the Cranbrook Bucks in a game that saw 3 goals scored in the span of 29 seconds setting a Warriors record. In the Warriors final game they would suffer a tough 3-2 loss to the Bucks but that what everyone was talking about. At the end of the horn both Warriors forwards John Evans and Marcus Joughin would drop the gloves which later resulted in a two game suspension, putting the Warriors in a tough position heading into the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack this week.
The BCHL Showcase is an event where all BCHL teams come together in one venue where NCAA scouts and NHL scouts can watch prospects without leaving their seat. The Showcase this year returns to the Coliseum in Chilliwack, a venue that is synonymous with previous BCHL Showcase events in years past. The event will take place from Wednesday until Sunday with the Warriors playing both of their games Friday and Saturday afternoon.
Warriors BCHL Showcase Breakdown
Friday October 22nd: West Kelowna Warriors (3-1) VS Victoria Grizzlies (5-0): 4:00pm PST
First up its the Victoria Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are arguably the most impressive team in the BCHL this season. They are the first team in the league to reach the 5 win mark (league high) outscoring their opponents 24-9 (league high). The stats have been great for the Grizzlies this season but its not their stat sheet that turns heads, enter 16 year old Matthew Wood. Wood along with (02) vet Connor Eddy are the top two scorers in the BCHL . Wood made the choice to stay in the BCHL and continue to take the college route despite being offered to play with Connor Bedard with the Regina Pats (WHL). Wood has been called the next great scorer in the BCHL joining the likes of Kent Johnson and former Victoria Grizzlies forward Alex Newhook. The Warriors must find a way to slow down the line of Eddy, Wood and Captain Ellis Rickwood Friday night or else the Warriors might find themselves falling to 3-2.
Saturday October 23rd: West Kelowna Warriors (3-1) VS Alberni Valley Bulldogs (2-1-1): 4:00pm PST
In a game where offense is paramount the Warriors will need the likes of John Evans and Marcus Joughin in the lineup for this game, issue is, they will be serving the final game of a 2 game suspension. Like the Grizzlies, this Bulldogs team is loaded with offense and it starts with former Warriors forward Brendan Buhr. Buhr, 19 was an affiliate player with the Warriors during the 2019-2020 season and then joined the Bulldogs during the 2020-2021 season where he made an immediate impact. Currently Buhr leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 7 points. If the Warriors are to win both or split the two games at the Showcase, they must outscore their opponents or play some of the best defensive hockey of the season.
Puck drop for the Warriors/Grizzlies will be 4:00pm PST on Friday. Saturday’s puck drop will also be 4:00pm PST for the Warriors/Bulldogs game. Both games will take place inside the Chilliwack Coliseum. All Warriors games will be broadcast on HockeyTV and the Warriors Mixlr internet radio feed. Season Tickets and Single Game Tickets are now available online or direct from the Warriors office. For more info visit the Warriors website or call (250)769-7051.
