Game 4 Recap Fred Page Cup Finals

Jake LeBrun deflected a Garrett Forster shot with 3:32 left in the first overtime as the West Kelowna Warriors took a 3-1 series lead over the Chilliwack Chiefs in the Fred Page Cup Finals on Tuesday night at Royal LePage Place.

The Warriors had a much better first period on Tuesday than they did on Monday, scoring on the power play as Rylan Yaremko's move to the backhand found the back of the net past Aidan Pelino. Liam Blackburn and Kylar Hope picked up assists as Blackburn used his bare hand to knock the puck down and get it to Yaremko.

Chilliwack tied it up in the second as Zach Giuttari was able to snap one home from the right circle as Jordan Kawaguchi found him from the corner. The shift featured a couple chances for the Warriors to clear the zone but they failed to do so. 

The power play would strike back for the second time in the hockey game at 10:43 as Kyle Marino buried the rebound from the side of the goal, similar to the one he scored in Game 1 in Chilliwack.

Darien Craighead made the game feel like overtime from the early part of period three when he beat Matthew Greenfield with a quick shot up high to tie the game at two. It was another confusion sequence on the Warriors back end, but more so the quick shifty Chiefs forwards that created the opportunity. 

The Warriors and Chiefs traded chances throughout the overtime, with a couple of scrambles in front of each goal that could have gone either way. Greenfield found himself down and out in a couple scenarios, but his defenders helped knock the puck away from danger. 

With LeBrun at the end of a shift, and Forster skating around the offensive zone with the puck, he would fire one on goal that appeared wide, but LeBrun reached behind him and deflected it right between Pelino's legs to set off pandemonium at RLP. 

Game Thoughts:

• The Warriors responded in the opening period with an effort that left their fans much more pleased and boisterous than they were on Monday night. A big hit by Kylar Hope (though it was called Charging correctly) fired up the 1200+ early, and the penalty kill created some more energy. Firing 13 shots on goal in the first definitely helped, as the Warriors spent 38 minutes on Monday trying to reach that number.
• The Warriors PP has been really good in this series, and proving why they are ranked up top in that category in the post-season. West Kelowna is 5/14 (35.7%) in the series, as Jonathan Desbiens and Kyle Marino have each scored twice, with Rylan Yaremko adding a man advantage goal. On the flip side, the Warriors PK has been dominant as well, going 13/14 for a 92.3% success rate. The Chiefs rank at the bottom on the penalty kill, with a % under 70. 
• Jake LeBrun. I talked with Rylan Ferster pre-game and he mentioned LeBrun as a guy who was going to get more opportunity in Game 4 than he had all series long, and probably since the Penticton series as Quin Foreman was out of the lineup. LeBrun made some smart plays with the puck in the game, and was a strong player in some puck battles as well. On the game winner, he was at the end of his shift, and reached behind him to deflect Garrett Forster's shot, which i'm told was going at least two feet wide. Great hand-eye coordination and a surprised Aidan Pelino couldn't react.
• This road isn't over, and it's not even close. I'm talking about this series. The Warriors veteran room understands that the fourth one is the hardest to win. West Kelowna has done it twice in the playoffs, finishing series on both the road, and at home, and will need a big effort on Friday night if they wish to win the Fred Page Cup.
• Game 5 is Friday night at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack. Tickets are available online for that game at https://chilliwackchiefs.showare.com/ordertickets.asp?p=193. Puck drops at 7 PM.  Look for tickets in Section R or S, in behind the Warriors bench.

Game 3 Recap Fred Page Cup Finals

The West Kelowna Warriors were knocked off by the Chilliwack Chiefs in Game 3 on Monday night at Royal LePage Place by a 3-1 score.

The Chiefs had some good looks in the first period but Matthew Greenfield was sharp throughout the frame, finding his way around screens to make some key stops and keep it scoreless. It was the Chiefs who controlled the shot clock in the frame, as they did in Game 1 early on. Shots were 12-5 Chilliwack after the first 20 minutes of play.

Early on in the second period, a clearing attempt off the faceoff bounced off the linesman's leg and as Jordan Kawaguchi came around the net he spotted Connor McCarthy at the top of the right circle who opened the scoring with a wrist shot.

West Kelowna tied the game up off a sneaky face-off play where Connor Sodergren won the draw back with his skate. It was one of those creative plays that maybe Team USA Rugby should take a look at Sodergren for creating offense and getting the biscuit out of their scrums. Garrett Forster was the recipient of the great footwork and buried past Aidan Pelino.

The Chiefs retook the lead later in the period after a Warriors turnover allowed the Chiefs enter the zone and create a great opportunity, as Darien Craighead finished it off from Vimal Sukumaran off the rebound of Matthew Greenfield's pad, which was a remarkable effort in itself. That's how the second period ended as the Warriors really didn't get the opportunities in the frame until the final two minutes, with only 12 total shots to that point in the frame, and finishing it with 16 shots on goal.

In the third, the Warriors got turned around on the Chiefs third goal, and allowed Kawaguchi to walk along the goal line and get around Greenfield on the backhand to go up 3-1. The Warriors just couldn't recover from that moment on, as they tried late in the third period, but credit the Chiefs for sticking to their defensive guns and blocking shots and dumping pucks into the Warriors zone late. 

As it was earlier in the series as well, the final seconds had a pair of aggressive skirmishes that featured numerous game misconducts and penalties as the frustration levels boiled over. 

Game Thoughts:

• The Warriors got beat to the puck more often than not tonight, and it was tough to tell if it was the Chiefs reading where the puck would be faster than West Kelowna, or if their effort level was just better than the Warriors on the night. Rylan Ferster mentioned post-game that the Warriors best players weren't playing like they can on the night, and that the veteran group is likely to respond on Tuesday.
• The aggression in this series has gone up another level, and it boiled over before the buzzer again tonight. Reed Gunville challenged Linden Hora at the end of the game and was turned down, as multiple misconducts were handed out. Hora was able to play in the game tonight after his five-minute major for a blow to the head and automatic two-game suspension was rescinded by the league ahead of Game 3. Judging by the comments from Jason Tatarnic in the interview that ran in the first intermission, he wasn't happy with the penalty in the first place, and alluded to the fact that he felt the Warriors faked their way to power plays in Game 2. Not sure there was much faking at all happening in Game 3, but nobody seems prepared to answer the bell if its about to ring.
• The Warriors got Kristian Blumenschein back tonight but he saw very limited action in the game, although he was out there late as the Warriors tried to get within one. Quin Foreman collided hard with Jonathan Desbiens in the second period and did not return. No word on his status for Game 4.
• Speaking of Game 4, can you say "pivotal"? With the Chiefs trying to regain home ice with a victory, and the Warriors trying to push Chilliwack to the brink of elimination, it should make for a fantastic game. The Warriors faithful weren't given enough opportunities to make noise on Monday, but if I know the group inside that Warriors dressing room, there will be enough to cheer about on Tuesday. Get your tickets, it's going to be loud.

Ticket Sales start at 9 AM Tuesday morning and go until 4 PM at the Warriors office. Call 250-769-7051 between those hours to reserve with Visa or Mastercard. The box office opens at 6 PM. 

Fred Page Cup Finals - Game 2 Recap

The West Kelowna Warriors took a 2-0 series lead on Saturday night with a 6-3 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs in a spirited Fred Page Cup Finals game with lots of post-whistle activity, and one that was special teams heavy.

The Warriors scored three times on the power play in the hockey game, with Jonathan Desbiens scoring twice and Jake LeBrun adding the other. The only even strength goal that wasn't into an empty net was Nick Rutigliano's opening goal that tied the game early in the second period.

Jordan Kawaguchi opened the scoring in the first two minutes of the game on the man advantage as the crowd of 1900 got on their feet. Jason Tatarnic mentioned pre-game that his team would be on from the opening shift, and that it was time to get the hate on in this series. While the first period had a lot of physical contact, the Warriors pushed back as well throughout the frame. It was a low shot total opening frame, as West Kelowna lead 5-2 on the shot clock after 20 minutes as the Warriors trailed 1-0.

Back to back goals 1:28 apart got the Warriors their first lead of the night, as Rutigliano tied the game at one after Connor Sodergren came out of the box. The Warriors would go ahead 2-1 on the power play when Jonathan Desbiens banked one off of Pelino from the goal line.

Aaron O’Neill tied the game back up at two on a delayed penalty, which upon further review was actually offside at the line. With no video review like the NHL, the goal stood and the Chiefs had the game tied. It would continue to go back and forth with the Warriors scoring the next goal, as Jake LeBrun capitalized on a one-timer chance in the slot with 6:21 remaining in the middle frame.

The Chiefs scored another somewhat controversial goal in the final minute, as the play in front of the goal happened so fast that a puck off the skate of Ryan Forbes was deemed a good goal by the officials, without much complaint from the Warriors bench.

In third, it was another man advantage that put the Warriors up 4-3 in the third, as Desbien’s second goal of the night was buried past Pelino. The penalty that was called against the Chiefs was a knee on knee hit on Kyle Marino that had the Warriors captain down in pain. The fans in the building were all over Marino as well as he headed off the ice with Warriors Athletic Therapist Mike Bois as he laid hunched over in pain on the bench but was able to continue.

The Chiefs had a couple of chances in the middle parts of the frame, and pulled the netminder with 2:33 to go, but allowed Brett Mennear and Kyle Marino to score into the empty net to make it 6-3.

The final moments of the big victory were marred by Liam Blackburn taking a hit to the head with less than five seconds remaining in the game. Linden Hora was given a five minute major for checking to the head and a game misconduct. There was no word on whether the automatic two-game suspension would be applied in the situation, but the Warriors were frustrated once again to see Blackburn down on the ice in the final minute in Chilliwack.

Game Thoughts:

• West Kelowna gave up the early goal in the hockey game but did a great job in responding to the physical play from the Chiefs. There were a lot of post-whistle skirmishes involving 8-10 players in that opening period, and not many whistles created by the goaltenders with just 7 shots total in the frame.
• The second period was one of the craziest ones the Warriors have played since the third against Penticton in Game 6. There were five goals, crazy chances, and a lot of intermission video review by myself to look at a pair of goals scored by the Chiefs. I got a text from Kelly O'Bryan's and the fans there before I could get a screenshot, but Jake Smith was a foot offside on a zone-entry with Kawaguchi, and the Chiefs capitalized on a delayed penalty to tie the game up at two. The third Chiefs goal had a full officials conference, but very tough to tell on the replays exactly what part of Ryan Forbes the puck hit to enter the net, but definitely no kicking motion from what I could tell, so a tied game entered the third.
• It was a shame that after a pair of empty net goals the game had to end like it did. Liam Blackburn takes a high hit from Linden Hora who had just come from hitting Quin Foreman. In a 6-3 game late, it was a tough pill to swallow for the Warriors staff, but Hora was given a 5-minute major for a Blow to the Head and a Game Misconduct, so we'll see whether the 2-game suspension is applied or rescinded by the league for Game 3.

Tickets are on sale for Game 3 (and 4) starting NOW (9 AM) at the Warriors office until 4 PM. The box office will open at 6 PM, and you can also call 250-769-7051 to reserve your seats with a Visa or Mastercard. A $1 Service Charge applies. Buy your tickets early in the day as they're expected to move quick with the Warriors looking for a 3-0 series lead in the BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals.

Game 1 Recap Fred Page Cup Finals

Matthew Greenfield was the story on Friday night as the West Kelowna Warriors opened up the BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals with a 2-0 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs at the Prospera Centre. After a slow start from the Warriors saw Greenfield need to make 12 saves in the first 10+ minutes of the game, the Warriors finally saw an opportunity to go the other way.

Matthew Greenfield was at his best in the first period, making 16 saves and keeping the Warriors in it

The Warriors would open the scoring after the media timeout allowed them to regroup a bit. After a great play along the wall by Brett Mennear got it out of the zone to Liam Blackburn, it was Blackburn who found Hope sneaking through on the back side of the two on one. Also there was Nick Rutigliano as the trailer and Hope's move made it 1-0 Warriors.

Hope is in here somewhere...as Warriors take 1-0 lead

In the second period, it looked like a different Warriors squad who started to get the opportunities and create off the rush against the Chiefs. Aidan Pelino had to make some big saves to keep it a 1-0 score, and the Chilliwack defense cleared some key rebounds as well.

As the Warriors began to get some sustained pressure, Bryan Basilico got the puck out front and back-handed one off the post, but it ended up on Kyle Marino's stick as he slammed it home to double the lead.

Oh Captain, My Captain! Marino makes it 2-0

The final buzzer of the second period saw the first instance of some fireworks, as Kylar Hope was hit high and hard into the end wall by Rylan Bechtel. Hope had tried to get the puck and ended up slashing the stick out of Aidan Pelino's hand, before taking the check. Hope stayed down on the ice for some time before heading off. He would return in the third, but his teammates went looking to defend him as the period ended, but nothing would come of it.

The third period once again saw the Chiefs get some pressure back on the Warriors as Jason Tatarnic shortened his bench throughout the frame, double shifting players and utilizing 7-8 forwards only. Matthew Greenfield not only had to stop pucks in the third period, but bodies as well. He took a check behind the net from Ryan Forbes in the period, but no penalty was called, and the Warriors didn't get a man advantage in the hockey game until late.

The only power play the Warriors did have was when Vimal Sukumaran slashed Kyle Marino and then they scrummed on the side boards. Gloves were off and some punches thrown, but only ten minute misconducts were called plus a slashing penalty to Sukumaran.

The Warriors third power play unit spent the 1:09 of man advantage time ragging the puck back in their own end and watching the clock run out on a big Game 1 win behind Greenfield's 37 save performance.

37 Saves from Matthew Greenfield earned him 1st star honours

 Game Thoughts:

• Matthew Greenfield might have won the game for West Kelowna in the first period when the Warriors weren't sharp. He made a bunch of big stops before the first media timeout, and the Warriors finally responded with a goal and then a much better second.
• The animosity increased with the hit by Bechtel on Hope at the end of period two, and boiled over with Kyle Marino and Vimal Sukumaran with 1:09 to go. Also in that scrum, Connor Sodergren had Jordan Kawaguchi in a headlock, probably reminding him to be careful with headshots in the neutral zone against the Warriors top players like last Sunday's hit on Blackburn.
• The Warriors will look for a big second win to head home up 2-0 on Saturday night, and will focus on their start of the game as a key point that needs to improve in the series.

Warriors 5 - Clippers 2 (Round 3, Game 6)

The West Kelowna Warriors knocked off the Nanaimo Clippers 5-2 on Friday night, and gave themselves a pair of opportunities to advance to the Fred Page Cup Finals picking up their second win of the third round.

The Warriors started strong in the opening period, flying out to an early advantage in the shots department, and were rewarded thanks to hard work while shorthanded. With Scott Allan off for closing his hand on the puck, Kylar Hope raced down the right wing and went around the net, roofing one over the right shoulder of Evan Johnson for the 1-0 lead. The period finished the same way on the scoreboard, as the Warriors lead 17-5 on the shot clock as well. Special Teams dominated the opening frame as well, as five different opportunities presented themselves, but only a shorthanded goal was mustered.

In the middle frame, the Warriors once again had some opportunities, but the Clippers also created some solid scoring chances, but both goaltenders made the big saves they needed to. Nanaimo tied it up off a broken play in the neutral zone after the Warriors couldn’t get it in deep, and Nolan Aibel’s shot from inside the blueline beat Matthew Greenfield and knotted the game up at one. Nanaimo came on strong late in the frame as well, finishing the period on a shots on goal run, as they held a 15-11 edge in the second.

Gavin Gould gave the Clippers a 2-1 lead just 37 seconds into the third period as he was sent in on a breakaway by Yanni Kaldis, and slid it through the legs of Greenfield sending 1500+ in attendance to their feet. The Warriors didn’t panic though, and after Matthew Hoover missed the net racing in on the right wing, the puck went all the way around the wall and Garrett Forster went in the other way, beating Johnson with a great shot to tie the game at two.

Just 16 seconds after the Warriors tied the game, Connor Sodergren wrapped one around the net after getting the puck on the left side and going all the way around and tucking it in to give West Kelowna a 3-2 edge.  Then, with just over five minutes remaining, Quin Foreman’s point shot bounced off the end wall, came out in front again, and he buried his own rebound to go up 4-2. Kylar Hope ended the scoring with a great little move in tight beating Johnson just 1:04  after Foreman made it 4-2.

Frustration was the word of the day in the latter stages of the game, as numerous skirmishes broke out in the final two minutes, with teams having just seven players on their benches and five on the ice to end the game. No big penalties were handed out, just a handful of minors as the buzzer sounded and the Warriors finished off the win.

Game Thoughts:

• The Warriors came out flying in the hockey game really took it to Nanaimo in the first period. The shot clock was pretty accurate at 17-5, as the Warriors peppered Evan Johnson but couldn't take the lead. It was the shorthanded effort from Kylar Hope that broke the deadlock, and the Warriors kept coming.
• Each team was 0-4 on the power play in the hockey game, and while penalty was strong, each team had good zone time and good looks on the man advantage but nobody could capitalize. Great saves were made at both ends.
• West Kelowna has had a quick strike offense at times this season and they showed that once again last night. Two goals 16 seconds apart almost deflated the crowd but it was only a one goal game. Quin Foreman's goal was the real silencer with just under six minutes left, and Kylar Hope sent the majority of the fans to the exits just a minute later.
• Matthew Greenfield was a key component to the victory, making crucial saves including a huge toe save on Sheldon Rempal in the third period. He dealt with traffic and contact all night long, and stayed focused, and while not named a star, he probably deserved consideration.

What Happens Now:

• With a 3-way tie at 2-2, the Warriors, Chiefs, and Clippers now enter the "if necessary" portion of the round robin. There was a 22% chance that this would occur, and it did. So now, the Warriors head to Chilliwack on Sunday at 5 PM, with the winner advancing to the Fred Page Cup Finals where they'll have home ice. The loser of that game, will play Nanaimo on Tuesday night for the second spot in the finals. 

Chiefs 4 - Warriors 3 (OT) Round 3 Game Recap

The West Kelowna Warriors scored twice in the third period to erase a 3-0 deficit from the first, including with 12.9 seconds left to tie the game, but the Chilliwack Chiefs won it just 59 seconds into overtime and moved within a win of the BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals.

What happened in the first period Friday was something the Warriors hadn't seen often in the postseason, having played scoreless or tied periods in over half of the games to this point. The Chilliwack Chiefs made sure that wouldn't happen, scoring three times on just seven shots, and silencing the crowd at Royal LePage Place.

Kohen Olischefski got the Chiefs on the board with a well placed shot off the right wing as he beat Matthew Greenfield up high for the opening marker halfway through the period. Just after that, the Chiefs once again would enter the West Kelowna zone, this time off a turnover, as Taylor Allan wrapped one around and tucked it in the open cage past Matthew Greenfield just 61 seconds after the first goal.

West Kelowna got a couple of chances on Aidan Pelino, but the Chiefs netminder stood his ground and made the stops he needed to. After a penalty to Jake LeBrun for slashing, Rylan Bechtel's point shot went through the screening maze of bodies and beat Greenfield who didn't stand a chance on the third marker of the period. The buzzer was the only saving grace of West Kelowna, who definitely had to regroup and set for the middle frame.

The Warriors made some changes in the offensive zone and came out for the second with renewed vigour, creating early opportunities and trying to get the transition game working. West Kelowna tried stretching out the Chiefs defense with guys at the far blueline, and activated their defense in a few different scenarios.

Kyle Marino laid out the most thunderous of checks in the Chiefs end in the second period, sending his man flying with a shoulder check in open ice. Marino would be called for interference however, as it was deemed that the Chilliwack player never got a stick on the puck. It's hard to tell on the fast hockey feed as well.

The Warriors would take another penalty after Jonathan Desbiens grabbed Jake Smith after Smith hit Blackburn in the back and drove him into the end boards without Blackburn having touched the puck. While some would call the penalty undisciplined, I liked seeing Desbiens stick up for his teammate, and maybe a regular season game would have seen a fight in that situation. In the NHL or WHL, absolutely it would have.

West Kelowna thought the got on the board late in the first period during that Desbiens penalty kill, as Liam Blackburn got a break away and tucked the forehand through Aidan Pelino and caused the Chiefs goalie to slide back over the line. However, the official in the corner deemed that Blackburn made contact with Pelino that forced the puck over the line. The fans were none to pleased about that call.

Blackburn then drew a penalty with some hard work off the faceoff, and with 21.9 seconds to go in the middle frame, Jake LeBrun made it 3-1 when his shot from the slot beat Pelino.

West Kelowna would have some good pressure in the third period and some great chances to get within one, but couldn't find it. Connor Sodergren hit iron on a solid shot from the middle of the ice, and Desbiens had a great chance to score as well, and ended up taking a penalty after his stick hit Pelino in the groin after a failed shot attempt.

Kylar Hope got the goal to put the Warriors within one as he went wide and behind the net for a wraparound with 11:10 to go in the third period. West Kelowna kept coming, but didn't get one past Pelino, including on a crazy scramble that wasn't blown dead until everyone started a scrum in front thinking the play was over.

With the goaltender out and the extra attacker on, the Warriors desperately tried to find a way to the front of the goal with the puck. At times, seven players were stacked in front, all trying to gain position, but it was a cross ice pass from the right circle to the left circle from Blackburn to Hope that tied the game with 12.9 seconds remaining, burying the equalizer on a one-timer.

Overtime was over quick, in just 59 seconds, as Jonathan Desbiens had a rush up ice and a solid shot stopped by the left pad of the goaltender Pelino, and cleared by a defender immediately. Jordan Kawaguchi was coming off the bench from a change, and was able to pick up the cleared puck and go in on a breakaway, and scoring on the blocker side with a wrist shot to end it, giving the Chiefs their second win of the third round.

Game Thoughts:

• An odd start to the game, and one that Warriors fans aren't accustomed to as the Chiefs scored three times on seven shots for the early lead. Can't fault Matthew Greenfield on two of them for sure (great shot Olischefski, screened PP goal Bechtel), and its tough to criticize the wrap around as well as it sure looked like Taylor Allan was going to shoot it throughout his rush.
• I referenced January 30th on the broadcast, as the Warriors were down 3-0 after one to Powell River in that game, then scored five in the second, gave up two in the third, and won it in overtime in a game that featured a pair of goalie changes. That wasn't the same script tonight, but the Warriors battled their way back, made adjustments and I felt had the majority of the opportunities after the opening frame. The OT goal is tough to swallow, given the great chance at one end, and how everything else aligned for the clearing of the rebound to end up on the stick of the Chiefs leading goal scorer. Some may say the Warriors didn't deserve to lose that hockey game, while others would say that because of the first period, maybe they didn't deserve to win. 
• No matter what side you're on, that was a fun hockey game to watch, and one of the reasons that the BCHL and Junior A Hockey is so fun in general. Players make mistakes, they're still kids, and they play for the passion of the game, and their future in the sport. This game had drama down to the wire, a heart-pumping tying goal, and a devastating finish for the home team. As much as losing hurts when you battled back so hard, as a fan you have to feel you got your monies worth tonight.

Now What?

What has become a popular question and thought throughout the office and stands, needs to be answered here. "What happens if we win tonight?", "How does this round work?", "isn't Chilliwack out if they lose?" and all that stuff based on this Round 3 format. I'll try and keep it simple.

• The goal of this round is to win 3 games. You must win your 3 games before the other two teams win 3 games. So far, it is Nanaimo 2, Chilliwack 2, West Kelowna 1.
• The Warriors will visit Nanaimo Friday at 7 PM. A Nanaimo win would give them the first spot in the Fred Page Cup Finals, as it would be Win 3 for the Clippers
• IF Nanaimo wins:
• Clippers advance to Finals
• Warriors play Chilliwack IN Chilliwack Sunday at 5 PM. Warriors would be in a MUST WIN against the Chiefs, as Chilliwack would be just 1 win away from 3.
• IF West Kelowna wins Friday:
• All teams would be tied 2-2
• A "Page Playoff" would be used, like in curling, meaning Seed 1 would play Seed 2 for a spot in the final, while the loser of the game between Seed 1 and Seed 2 would play Seed 3 for the second spot. In other words, the top two teams have earned the right to get two chances to advance.
• West Kelowna would play Chilliwack IN Chilliwack Sunday at 5 PM, with the winner advancing to the Finals.
• The loser would then face Nanaimo Tuesday for the second spot.

It's all confusing, and we understand the frustration with not being able to follow it as close as you like, but the Warriors need your support as they head out on the road and try to make sure there's another game at Royal LePage Place this season.

You can catch all the action from Friday night's game on the big screen at Kelly O's in West Kelowna, as the Fast Hockey broadcast will be played at the new Official Headquarters of Warriors Playoff Hockey. Don't miss out. If you can't make it down to Kelly O's in West Kelowna to watch, listen live at www.mixlr.com/bchlwarriors. 

Warriors 1 - Clippers 4 (Round 3, Game 2 RECAP)

The West Kelowna Warriors fell 4-1 to the Nanaimo Clippers in the second game of the BCHL 3rd round on Thursday night, as a pair of empty netters dotted the final minutes.

Connor Sodergren scored the first goal for the Warriors late in the opening period, firing a shot from the slot that bounced off the goaltender Evan Johnson, up in the air and dropped over the line for the 1-0 edge.

The Clippers would respond though before the period was out, as a nifty deflection by Nanaimo’s leading scorer Sheldon Rempal tied the game at one.

There was no scoring in the second period, and none until halfway through the third when Matthew Hoover had all the time in the world to go to his backhand and beat Matthew Greenfield to take the lead.

West Kelowna could not find the equalizer on a fury with around five minutes to go, and Rempal and Hoover each deposited their empty netters to make it 4-1.

Game Thoughts:

• A very feisty start to the hockey game saw multiple (3) instances of coincidental minors, plus a pair of misconducts handed out in the first eight minutes of the game. The Warriors spent time in the first period protecting their goaltender as well, as Matthew Greenfield was dumped once, poked twice and had his helmet pulled off his head in the opening frame. Definitely a stark contrast to Tuesday's action, but a very similar style to what the first round looked like against Salmon Arm.
• Sheldon Rempal showed why Nanaimo's leading scorer had 59 goals in the regular season. His deflection of a slap pass past Greenfield was pretty impressive, as he picked the inside of the post from the top of the circle on a crisp pass. Great skill there, and something he practices i'm sure. Remember it was Rempal who scored the lacrosse style goal while the Warriors were in Nanaimo earlier this season.
• West Kelowna went 0/2 (plus 23 seconds on a third) on the man advantage tonight, but had some great chances early in the 3rd, but couldn't score. Back in the second, the Warriors had amazing chances while playing four on four but Evan Johnson stood on his head.
• Johnson was the story. His 36 saves included two amazing stops on Liam Blackburn with the glove, and somehow kept out attempts from Quin Foreman and Garrett Forster as well. He got a little help from his iron friends, as the Warriors hit three of four posts on the night as well. You've got to be lucky to be good, and Evan Johnson was.
• The Warriors now have six days off before hosting the Chilliwack Chiefs next Wednesday, April 6th at Royal LePage Place. It may or may not be a weekend (Saturday/Monday) of scoreboard watching, but the game vs the Chiefs will go ahead as scheduled. It's just a matter of whether or not the Nanaimo Clippers have advanced at that point. Interesting part to this format.