With their first meeting since September 21st, the West Kelowna Warriors and Trail Smoke Eaters put on a show at Royal Lepage
It was a first period that had a little bit of everything for the Smoke Eaters. Energized by the return of their captain, The Smoke Eaters jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening ten minutes thanks to two goals from Kent Johnson. The first was an absolute rocket as he put one bar down on Warriors goaltender Brock Baier. The second just four minutes later say Corey Clifton find Mike Colella who found Johnson with a cross seem pass that Johnson faked and went to the back hand to beat Baier again. The Warriors would storm back however as they called a time out and got goals 3 minutes apart from Trevor Adams and Max Bulawka to tie the game at 2. Then in the dying seconds of the period Philippe Lapointe would get his first BCHL goal as he tipped the shot from Powell Connor past Baier, sending the Smokies to the break up a goal.
The teams traded chances in the second period put the goaltenders stood tall, and would until 6:16 of the third period where the Warriors would finally tie things up. Kyle Budvarson would fall at the Warriors blue line leading to a 2-on-1 the other way. Brandon Dent would hold the whole way and go blocker side on Logan Terness to tie the game at 3. The Warriors would get a powerplay with two minutes to go, and would get one again in overtime, but the Smoke Eaters penalty kill stood strong going 5/5 on the night.
With OT solving nothing these teams needed a shootout to decide the extra point. Owen Ozar would score the lone goal for the Smoke Eaters while Terness was solid stopping all three shooters, sending the Smokies back to the Kootenay’s with all two points.
These teams will play again Saturday night back at Cominco as the Smoke Eaters go for the weekend sweep over West Kelowna. Puck drop is at 7pm.
