The West Kelowna Warriors came out strong in the opening period, and it ended up being too much for the Backs to handle on a Tuesday night; as the Backs 5 game point streak was snapped in a 6-2 loss to the Tribe.
The Warriors shut down the BCHL’s top line of Gillies-Anderson-Smith, and it ended up rewarding them with their 14th win of the year.
In the 1st period of play, The Warriors went all in early, and it didn’t take them long to get on the board, as Jason Cotton buried one at 2:42 from the first line of Carl Hesler and Ambrose Firkus to make it 1-0 Warriors.
At 6:44, the 2nd goal for the Warriors went in; when Defensemen Taylor Graham let one blast through a screened Adam Clark. Kelowna kept coming, making it 3-0, at 12:34, when Ambrose Firkus got a goal; then, after that, the Warriors made it a 4-0 lead when Matt Anholt jumped on a loose puck and put it behind Clark.
In the 2nd frame, the Backs came out a completely different team, scoring a pair of goals in quick succession. Bryden Marsh tipped in first goal of the season from a Cole McAskill shot, Riley Hunt drew the other assist to get the Backs on the board at 1:38. Just 54 seconds later Alex Jewell sent a puck into the open cage; back-handing in another goal to stay hot for the Backs, cutting the West Kelowna lead to 4-2.
The Warriors ended up taking a 5-2 lead in the 3rd Period, when Jason Cotton tipped in his 2nd of the game, his 12th of the year, on a Ryan Ivey shot from the point. After a controversial hit, and a scrap between Bryden Marsh and Mac Ferner, Matt Anholt potted his 2nd of the game into the open cage , creating what would be a 6-2 final score, favouring the Warriors.
The Backs now hit the road this weekend, with games in Langley and Prince George on Friday and Saturday Night, respectively.
