Goalies shine as Warriors win a pair on the weekend
Brock Baier turned in one of the goaltending performances of the season with 50 saves as the West Kelowna Warriors stole a 3-2 victory over the visiting Penticton Vees in BCHL action on Friday at Royal LePage Place.
Chase Dubois scored twice — including the go-ahead power-play goal with 1:43 left in the first period — as the Warriors (7-7-0-1) won the first meeting of the season between the arch-rivals.
All the scoring in the game came in the first period, with Mike Hardman also scoring for the Warriors, while Eric Linell potted both goals for the Vees (7-5-0-1).
Andre Ghantous had two assists and Jack LaFontaine made 26 saves for the Vees.
After an evenly played first period with the teams even on shots at 15-15, Penticton dominated the rest of the game, widely out-chancing and outshooting the home team 37-14. But Baier had the answer every time.
Baier, Dubois and Linell were the three stars in front of 705 fans.
————— On Saturday in Trail, the Warriors came from behind to beat the Smoke Eaters 4-3.
The first period and early part of the second belonged to the home team, which led 2-0 after 20 minutes and outshot the visiting Warriors 15-8 in the first frame. After killing off a penalty early in the second, however, the Warriors got on the board with a Tanner Marshall goal.
Mike Hardman knotted the game at 2-2 later in the period as the Smokies coughed up the puck to Kayle Chernenkoff, who fed Eric Olson, whose drop pass set up Hardman’s goal
Penalty trouble midway through the third period killed the Smoke Eaters as Jimmy Darby was tossed from the game for a headcontact penalty and unsportsmanlike conduct.
West Kelowna scored on the two man powerplay with Hardman’s second of the game.
Willie Reim then scored with a one-man advantage to secure the win.
The Smoke Eaters pressed to get back in the game and got one goal late, but couldn’t manage two.
The Warriors lost Cavin Tilsley to an injury. He blocked a shot near his neck and was taken out of the game.
Goaltending was again a key to the win as Connor Hopkins stopped 33 shots for the Warriors.
West Kelowna’s next game is Friday at 7 p.m. at Royal LePage Place against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.