WEST KELOWNA- Felix Trudeau scored two goals two and a half minutes apart in the second period, and Johnny Derrick stopped 30/31 to help defeat the Silverbacks 4-1 on home ice.
The opening frame began with something I had never seen before. Before the puck was dropped to start the game, the Silverbacks were gifted a powerplay, as the West Kelowna Warriors were assessed a delay of game penalty for having players on the ice after the warmup clock expired. The top unit consisted of many players making their preseason debuts; Daniel Panetta, Danny Ciccarello, Mathieu Cobetto-Roy, Brandon Santa Juana, and Will Lavigne. Although they had a couple of good looks, including a Cobetto-Roy shot off the goal post they were unable to cash in. Santa Juana was ejected from the game on his very next shift for checking from behind; the Backs’ were able to kill it off. Shortly after, the Warriors got on the scoresheet. Captain Elan Bar Lev Wise was able to slip one past Silverbacks goaltender Liam Vanderkooi, who was making his preseason debut. The Silverbacks quickly responded, just three minutes later when Daniel Panetta ripped a shot off the pad of Warriors goaltender Johnny Derrick which led to a juicy rebound, and Nathan Morin pounced on it. The goal tied the game and gave Morin goals in back-to-back games. The Silverbacks got two late powerplay’s but were unable to convert. Shots on goal after the opening frame were 11-6 Warriors.
In the middle frame, the Silverbacks had a glorious chance to take the lead when Charles-Alexis Legault got a roughing penalty, and moments later, the Warriors were assessed a too many men penalty, putting the Silverbacks on a 5 on 3. The Backs’ couldn’t get in sync and failed to convert. The Warriors used that kill as momentum. Shortly after the penalty kill Nick Roukounakis threw the puck at the net from behind the goal line, banking it off Vanderkooi and into the net, making it 2-1 Warriors. But they weren’t done there. Moments later, Felix Trudeau jammed a loose puck past Vanderkooi doubling the Warriors lead. Trudeau was at it again three minutes later, sniping a shot over the glove of Vanderkooi, making it 4-1 Warriors. Although the Warriors scored three in the second period, the Backs’ actually outshot the Warriors 14-11.
In the third period, there was no scoring; it was back and forth powerplay’s for each team. The Silverbacks had four chances on the man advantage to get back into the game but were stifled by Derrick, who stopped 30/31. Things got nasty late in the third period when Legault cross-checked Silverbacks defenceman Kieran Ruscheninski up high, which resulted in Legault getting ejected from the game.
With the loss, the backs go to 1-1 in the preseason. These two teams will meet tomorrow night in Salmon Arm from the Shaw Centre. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM.
