The Warriors start island road trip with a 2-1 loss to the Powell River Kings Friday night.
The Warriors came out hot to start the game with a couple quality scoring chances but couldn’t beat the former Penticton Vees goaltender Derek Krall. Halfway through the period the Kings would go on the attack and without his stick, forward Jacob Slipec was able to kick the puck to an open Nic Porchetta who beat Johnny Derrick to make it 1-0 Kings. The Warriors would go on the power play seconds later and answer back with a Brandon Dent goal that appeared to go in, however because the official blew the whistle early disallowing the goal. Warriors would head into the dressing room down 1-0 after one period.
The second frame the Kings were the team to come out flying. The first half of the period was spent mainly inside the Warriors zone leading to another Kings goal. During a line change the Kings would cycle inside the West Kelowna end and after a couple nifty passes behind the Warriors net, forward Hunter McCoy was able to beat Johnny Derrick to make it 2-0 Kings. The Warriors would get their best scoring chance on the power play. It was their second unit with John Evans playing the puck towards the net and Brendan Pigeon jamming away looking to capitalize on the rebound, but Kings goaltender Derek Krall stood tall keeping his shutout in tact. The Kings were clearly the better club out shooting the Warriors 11-6 in the second frame.
Warriors needed a hot start to the third, and they got it. Lots of pressure inside the Kings zone for the majority of the period, but the Warriors still couldn’t solve Derek Krall. Warriors seemed snake bit in the third not getting any grade A chances, until a Kings defender was fooled by a Warriors player slapping his stick on the ice looking for a pass, that Warriors player was Jacob Brockman. The turnover allowed Brockman to go in all alone beating Krall scoring his first BCHL goal in style to cut the lead. The Warriors would continue to pressure inside the Kings zone in the final two minutes of the hockey game but couldn’t get the shot through traffic allowing the Kings to escape with the 2-1 victory.
Final shots on goal: 34-30 in favor of the Kings.
Three Stars:
- PR Derek Krall (29 Saves)
- WKW Johnny Derrick (32 Saves)
- PR Jacob Badal
Fortis Energy Player of the Game:
PR F Nolan Krogfoss
The Warriors next game is Sunday November 11th versus the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Puck drop 2:00pm from the Cowichan Community Centre.