Visitors played like Warriors on Vancouver Island trip
The West Kelowna Warriors won two of three games in a Vancouver Island road trip on the weekend. After opening with a 7-3 loss in Victoria to the Grizzlies on Friday night, the Warriors bounced back with 4-3 victories Saturday against the Clippers in Nanaimo and Sunday against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Grizzlies 7 Warriors 3
The Grizzlies held a narrow lead after a highscoring Àrst period, then shut the visitors down for the next 40 minutes.
Seven goals were scored in the opening frame. Victoria started the scoring with two goals six seconds apart early in the frame.
The Warriors evened the score at 2-2 on power-play goals by Jared Marino and Stephen Kleyson, then grabbed the lead 51 seconds later with Chase Dubois’ 16th goal of the season that forced a goaltending change for the Grizzlies.
Victoria bounced back with goals from T.J. Friedmann and Dayne Finnson to take a 4-3 lead.
Justin Michaelian notched the only goal of the second period for Victoria.
The Grizzlies put the game away in the third as Alex Newhook scored just 45 seconds into the period and Cameron Thompson completed the scoring. Shots on goal: 35-29 Grizzlies Warriors PP: 2/4 Warriors PK: 1/3 3 Stars: 1) Dayne Finnson (2-1-3) 2) Ethan Nother (0-3-3) 3) Jamie Rome (1-1-2) Fortis Energy Player of the Game: Lucas Clark (0-1-1) Attendance: 975
Warriors 4 Clippers 3
The Warriors used a two-goal third period from Lucas Cullen and 43 saves from Cole Demers to squeeze by the Nanaimo Clippers Saturday night at Frank Crane Arena.
Cullen’s second goal of the Ànal frame midway through the period was the game winner, coming just a minute after the Clippers had tied the game.
Stephen Kleysen’s shot hit the mask of Nanaimo goalie Noah Featherstonhaugh Gowe with the rebound coming to the slot for Cullen, who Àred it in.
Cullen’s earlier goal in the period had snapped a 2-2 tie, but the Clippers kept Àghting back, as they had all night.
In fact, in the Ànal two periods the hero for West Kelowna was goalie Demers, who made 15 saves on 16 shots in the second period and 21 saves in the Ànal frame.
The Warriors led 2-1 after the Àrst period with the home team scoring Àrst while Michael Lombardi and Cavin Tilsley replied for the Warriors.
Nanaimo got the only goal of the second from Lucas Vanroboys. Shots on goal: 47-24 Clippers Warriors PP: 2/5 Warriors PK: 5/6 3 Stars: 1) Lucas Cullen (2-1-3) 2) Lucas Vanroboys (1-0-1) 3) Michael Lombardi (1-1-2) Fortis Energy Player of the Game: Parker Colley (1-1-2) Attendance: 1,106
Warriors 4 Bulldogs 3
Cavin Tilsley’s goal with just over Àve minutes to go was the winner for the Warriors.
Tilsley wristed a puck on from the left point where Alberni goalie John Hawthorne made the save, but fumbled the puck in his pads and watched it fall behind him across the goal line for Tilsley’s seventh goal of the season.
It was a tragic end to the game after a heroic effort by Hawthorne, particularly in the Àrst period, when he made 18 saves.
The game was tied 1-1 after the Àrst period. Just 33 seconds after Alberni opened the scoring, Max Bulawka Ànished off a set faceoff play to tie the game for the Warriors.
RJ Murphy scored the lone goal of the second period for West Kelowna on a breakaway.
Alberni tied the game twice in the third period — at 2-2 then 3-3 — before giving up the winner.
The game ended with a kerfufÁe at the 17:42 mark. Alberni’s James Orban received a major and misconduct for a head shot to Warrior Michael Lombardi that riled up some players, but there was no real trouble after that. Shots on goal: 43-25 Warriors Warriors PP: 0/5 Warriors PK: 2/4 3 Stars: 1) Nik Amundrud (22 saves on 25 shots) 2) Tyler Vanuden (2-0-2) 3) Cavin Tilsley (1-0-1)
Fortis Energy Player of the Game:
Christian Simeone (0-0-0) Attendance: 979 The Warriors (20-18-1-1) head south to Wenatchee, Wash., for games Friday and Saturday nights at the Town Toyota Center against the 25-12-1-2 Wild.