Halloween PREVIEW - @ Salmon Arm

The West Kelowna Warriors are coming off a successful 3 game road trip to Vancouver Island taking 5 of 6 points against Nanaimo, Cowichan, and Victoria. The focus returns to the Interior Division now for the next 4 games, as the Warriors will take on Salmon Arm for 2, then Penticton and Vernon, so strap in and get ready for the action coming up in the next week.

Game Notes:

Salmon Arm – 6-6-0-2 6th in Interior Division (14 Pts) HOME – 3-3-0-1 ROAD – 3-3-0-1  Top Scorer– Andrew Farny (6 G, 9 A) GF – 44 GA – 44 PP – 3rd – 27.6% (16 for 58) PK – 7th – 78.6% (44 for 56)	West Kelowna – 7-5-0-2 3rd in Interior Division (16 Pts) HOME – 2-4-0-0 ROAD – 6-1-0-2 Top Scorer – Liam Blackburn (8 G, 20 A) GF – 56 GA – 56 PP – 4th – 26.3% (20 for 76) PK – 8th – 77.8% (49 for 63) Next Game – November 1st vs. Salmon Arm – 7:00 PM – Royal Lepage Place
Head-to-Head Lifetime – West Kelowna is 26-17-1-8 vs. Salmon Arm 2013/2014 Head to Head – West Kelowna wins season series 6-1

PREVIEW: Warriors @ Nanaimo

The Warriors open up their island road trip with a game against the Island Division leading Nanaimo Clippers. The Clippers, who the Warriors beat at the BCHL Showcase, have been on a tear lately, winning their last 6 games, and 10 of their last 11. The Nanaimo team has the most goals for in the BCHL with 57, and has the 3rd best differential at +15.

The West Kelowna Warriors have fallen in their last 4 games, the 2nd longest streak in the BCHL currently. The Warriors have played well on the road, only dropping a pair of games in the first five, one in OT to Merritt and a late loss to Penticton at the SOEC. 

The Warriors top line of Jason Cotton, Liam Blackburn, and Michael Buonincontri have been coming together as a unit over the past two games, as they combined for 15 points last weekend against Merritt and Vernon. They were responsible for 6 of the last 8 goals.

Game Notes:

Nanaimo – 10-3 1st in Island Division (20 Pts) HOME – 5-1-0-0  ROAD – 5-2-0-0  Top Scorer– Sheldon Rempal(9G,8A) GF – 57 GA – 42 PP – 9th – 22% (13 for 59) PK – 9th – 77.8% (42 for 54)

West Kelowna – 5-5-0-1 6th in Interior Division (11 Pts) HOME – 2-4-0-0 ROAD – 3-1-0-1 Top Scorer – Liam Blackburn (8 G, 14 A) GF – 41 GA – 42 PP – 7th – 23.8% (15 for 63) PK – 5th – 80.7% (46 for 57) Next Game – Oct 25th @ Cowichan – 7:00 PM – Island Savings Center

Head-to-Head Lifetime – West Kelowna leads 8-6-1 2013/2014 Head to Head – Season Series Split 1-1-1 This Season Head to Head September 21st – West Kelowna defeats Nanaimo – 7-6 -      A back and forth affair at the BCHL Showcase saw the lead change hands 3 times and Special Teams play a huge role with 5 total Powerplay goals. The Warriors were lead on offense by Liam Blackburn (2+2), and Jason Cotton (2+1). Kade Kehoe, Kylar Hope, and Ryan Ivey also scored. For the Clippers, it was Jacob Jackson with 2 goals, as well as Kale Bennett, Brett Roulston, Corey Renwick, and Devin Brosseau with the others.

October 18th Preview - Vernon vs. Warriors

Vernon – 5-4-0-1 T-3rd  in Interior Division (11 Pts) HOME – 3-3-0-1  ROAD – 2-1-0-0  Top Scorer – Thomas Aldworth (6 G, 3 A) GF – 25 GA – 31 PP – 16th – 2.2% (1 for 45) PK – 13th – 77.1% (37 for 48)	West Kelowna – 5-4-0-1 T-3rd  in Interior Division (11 Pts) HOME – 2-3-0-0 ROAD – 3-1-0-1 Top Scorer – Liam Blackburn (7 G, 13 A) GF – 37 GA – 35 PP – 5th – 25.9% (15 for 58) PK – 4th – 82.7% (43 for 52) Next Game – October 24th @ Nanaimo – 7 PM
Head-to-Head Lifetime – West Kelowna leads 26-21-2-6 2013/2014 Head to Head – Vernon won season series 4-2-1 2014/2015 Head to Head September 26th – Vernon 4, West Kelowna 1 September 27th – West Kelowna 4, Vernon 0

October 17th PREVIEW: Warriors vs. Cents

The West Kelowna Warriors will take their 3-1 road record into the smaller confines of the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena tonight to take on the struggling Centennials. After starting off the season 5-1, the Cents have dropped their last 3 games, including blowouts to Chilliwack and Salmon Arm.

The Warriors will look to bounce back from a pair of losses to the Penticton Vees when they hit the ice tonight, as the ever-tight Interior Division sees 4 teams tied in 3^rd spot with 10 points.

Top Scorer Liam Blackburn will look to make his way back onto the score sheet, after being held off of it on Saturday against Penticton (as were the rest of his teammates), snapping an 8 game point streak.

Michael Buonincontri returned to the West Kelowna line-up in that home date with the Vees, and the hope is that Greydon Robinson and Kade Kehoe are close to a return as well. With the smaller ice surface in Merritt expect the physical play to pick up as well.

UPDATE: The Warriors have added 20-year-old forward Andrew Johnson to the team following the WHL deadline for determining their 3 overage players for the season. Johnson comes to the team after 260+ games in Major Junior for Swift Current, Seattle, and Moose Jaw. He had 44 goals and 58 assists over 4 full seasons.

Game Notes:

Merritt – 5-4-0-0 T-3rd in Interior Division (10 Pts) HOME – 3-1-0-0  ROAD – 2-3-0-0  Top Scorer – Gavin Gould (2 G, 6 A) GF – 26 GA – 25 PP – 7th – 23.8% (10 for 42) PK – 4th – 82.2% (37 for 45)

West Kelowna – 5-4-0-0 T-3rd in Interior Division (10 Pts) HOME – 2-3-0-0 ROAD – 3-1-0-0 Top Scorer – Liam Blackburn (6 G, 11 A) GF – 33 GA – 30 PP – 6th – 24.5% (13 for 53) PK – 3rd – 82.6% (38 for 46) Next Game – Oct 18th vs Vernon – 7:00 PM – Royal Lepage Place

Head-to-Head Lifetime – West Kelowna leads 40-12-1-1 2013/2014 Head to Head – West Kelowna wins 7-0-0-1 This Season Head to Head October 4th – Merritt defeats West Kelowna 2-1 -      A late 2nd period goal shorthanded from Jake Clifford was the back-breaking goal against the Warriors with less than 1 second left on the clock. Anthony Pupplo stopped all 9 shots he faced in the 3rd period to hold on for the victory. Jonathan Desbiens had the lone goal for the Warriors, on the power-play in the 1st.

PREVIEW - Warriors @ Penticton - October 10th

The West Kelowna Warriors will head to the SOEC to take on their Southern rivals tonight at 7:00 pm.

The Vees, who currently sit in 1st place in the Interior thanks to a 6-1 record, have already recorded 1 win this week, knocking off the Merritt Centennials 4-2 on Wednesday night to move into sole possession of first place this early on in the season.

Last season Penticton won the head-to-head match-up by a 4-3 margin, but the Warriors went 2-1 at the SOEC, and will look to move their road streak to 3 in Penticton.

West Kelowna has been road "Warriors" early on this season, winning 4 games if you include the BCHL Showcase as Road games, given that the Warriors rode the bus to each game of that weekend.

In other news for the Warriors this week, Liam Blackburn committed to the University of New Hampshire Wildcats, you can hear his interview on the Warriors website, or during the 1st period intermission of tonight's game.

Penticton – 6-1-0-0 1st in Interior Division (12 Pts) HOME – 3-0-0-0  ROAD – 3-1-0-0  Top Scorer –Tyson Jost (4 G, 6 A) GF – 31 GA – 17 PP – 12th –15.79% (6 for 38) PK – 10th – 78.57% (22 for 28)	West Kelowna – 5-2-0-0 3rd in Interior Division (10 Pts) HOME – 2-2-0-0 ROAD – 3-0-0-0 Top Scorer –Liam Blackburn (6 G,10 A) GF – 30 GA – 22 PP – 6th – 25% (11 for 44) PK – 5th – 81.58% (31 for 38) Next Game – Oct 11th vs Penticton – 7:00 PM – Royal Lepage Place
Head-to-Head Lifetime – West Kelowna is 16-39-0-7 All-Time vs. Penticton 2013/2014 Head to Head – Penticton wins Season Series 4-3

PREVIEW - October 5th vs. Cowichan

A quick turnaround for the Warriors following a loss to Merritt on Saturday night. The game Saturday did not lack any emotion as there was definite animosity between the two teams. A shorthanded goal by the Centennials scored on a break-away, by a DEFENSEMAN was the difference. A goal that the powerplay unit definitely wants back.

As for today's opponent, the Capitals are winless on their road trip so far, dropping a 6-2 decision to Trail, and falling 2-1 to Vernon. They will look to salvage 2 points on their interior swing, while the Warriors look to rebound and keep pace in the Interior Conference. For the 1st time all season long, there is only 2 teams tied for 1st place in the division.

West Kelowna holds a 9-3-0-2 advantage over Cowichan Valley, and have not dropped a game on home ice to the Capitals since 2006/2007.

Stats Pack:

Cowichan Valley – 1-5-0-0 5th in Island Division (2 Pts) HOME – 1-2-0-0  ROAD – 0-3-0-0  Top Scorer – Brayden Gelsinger   (3G, 5A) GF – 15 GA – 26 PP – 15th –8% (2 for 25) PK – 4th – 82.8% (24 for 29)	West Kelowna – 4-2-0-0 3rd in Interior Division (8 Pts) HOME – 2-2-0-0 ROAD – 2-0-0-0 Top Scorer – Liam Blackburn (5G,8A) GF – 25 GA – 19 PP – 7th – 22.5% (9 for 40) PK – 6th – 81.8% (27 for 33) Next Game – Oct 11th @ Penticton – 7:00 PM – SOEC
Head-to-Head Lifetime – West Kelowna leads 9-3-0-2 2013/2014 Head to Head – West Kelowna wins season series 2-0

GAME PREVIEW - Centennials vs. Warriors - October 4th

The West Kelowna Warriors return home on Saturday night for a battle with the Merritt Centennials. Merritt shut out Vernon on Friday night, but may have lost starter Jonah Imoo in the process. Anthony Pupplo is a very capable backup and a formidable goaltender that will test the Warriors as well.

West Kelowna's come from behind victory on Tuesday vs. Coquitlam should lead to confidence as they get set for this one. Merritt though has a 100% penalty kill and a 3rd ranked PP. They have also allowed the fewest goals in the BCHL so far through 5 games.  It's always fun when a high octane offence goes up against a solid defense.

Tonight's Stat Pack:

Merritt – 4-1-0-0 T-1st in Mainland Division (8 Pts) HOME – 3-0-0-0  ROAD – 1-1-0-0  Top Scorer – John Schiavo (5G, 2A) GF – 20 GA – 7 PP – 3rd – 34.8% (8 for 23) PK – 1st – 100% (21 for 21)	West Kelowna – 4-1-0-0 T-1st in Interior Division (8 Pts) HOME – 2-1-0-0 ROAD – 2-0-0-0 Top Scorer – Liam Blackburn (5G,7A) GF – 24 GA – 17 PP – 7th – 25% (8 for 32) PK – 7th – 73.9% (23 for 29) Next Game – Oct 5th vs Merritt – 2:30 PM – Royal Lepage Place
Head-to-Head Lifetime – West Kelowna leads 40-11-1-1 2013/2014 Head to Head – West Kelowna wins 7-0-0-1