The defending champion Kelowna Raiders lived up to their billing in the opening game of the Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League season.
On Friday at Memorial Arena, Pho Heng scored four goals and added two assists as the Raiders rolled past the Kamloops Rattlers 18-8.
Vic Wiens, Joe Brown and captain Jacob Illichmann each had hat tricks as Kelowna overcame an early 3-0 deficit.
Matt Gorges and Nick Evans each contributed a pair of goals with a single from Chris Phillips. Kelowna’s defensive squad, led by Gorges and Cody Ridden, managed to control loose balls and contain the fast Kamloops forwards all evening.
Rattlers’ captain Mark Jurista his team with three goals.
On Friday night, the Raiders return to action when they host the Armstrong Shamrocks (1-0) at Memorial Arena. Face is 7:30 p.m.
Jr. Raiders home Thursday…
The Kelowna Raiders play their Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League opener on Thursday night at Memorial Arena against the Armstrong Shamrocks. Face off is 7:30 p.m.
The Raiders came up just a little short in their 2015 season opener on Saturday night in Kamloops, falling 14-12 to the Venom.
“I was quite happy with the way we played, the guys competed and played hard,” said Raiders head coach Travis Wray. “It was back and forth all night, they got a couple of late power plays and we just couldn’t get those goals back.”
Chase Bremner and Marcello Bose led Kelowna’s attack with three goals each.
No. 1 goaltender Tristan Parece was unavailable for the Raiders due to other commitments, but is expected back in goal Thursday night.
