The West Kelowna Warriors couldn’t win the special teams game in a penalty filled 5-1 loss to the Merritt Centennials in BCHL action Tuesday at Royal LePage Place.
The Warriors started the game with great jump but the Cents were first on the scoreboard thanks to Chase Bell. The second year Cent whacked in a loose puck on a scramble on the power play to make it a 1-0 Merritt lead at 10:21 of the first period.
Connor Sodergren got the Warriors even at the 15:56 mark of the first period after burying a beautiful feed from Parm Dhaliwal at the bottom of the right circle or his third goal of the season and the power play marker drew the Warriors to a 1-1 tie that would stand up after 20 minutes.
Merritt would take their lead back early in the second period with two quick markers on the power play that started with a Tyler Ward shot through traffic at the 2:24 mark on a 5-on-3 before Cade Gleekel’s first BCHL marker just 22 seconds later put the Centennials ahead by a 3-1 score.
The Centennials kept the pressure on with a goal at the 6:38 mark of the third period courtesy of Tyler Pietrowski at even strength to put Merritt up by a 4-1 score.
Merritt rounded out the night with a goal from newcomer Zach Risteau, who had a three-point game, and scored the games final goal off the rush on the PP to pull the Cents ahead by a 5-1 score.
The Warriors special team game will need to be better as West Kelowna went 2/6 on the penalty kill while going 1/8 on the man advantage.
Xavier Burghardt started for the Warriors, stopping 27 shots on 32 tries while Merritt goaltender Jacob Berger made 38 saves on 39 shots for his second win of the season.
The Warriors (4-2-0-0) are back in action on Friday night at 7 p.m. when they host the Penticton Vees from Royal LePage Place. Pre game is at 6:50 p.m. on the Warriors Internet Network and www.fasthockey.com.
