Jordan Masters scored twice as the West Kelowna Warriors shut out the Vernon Vipers 4-0 Saturday night before 1,770 B.C. Hockey League fans at Kal Tire Place.
Masters, a 20-year-old New Yorker, converted twice within 2:28 late in the first period as the Warriors avenged a 4-1 loss to Vernon the night before in West Kelowna. He bolted out of the penalty box and after some confusion between the Viper defence and goalie Danny Todoyschuk, buried the puck into an empty net for his first goal. Liam Blackburn and Jason Cotton drew assists.
Masters then clicked on the power play just 33 seconds into a hooking penalty by Vernon defenceman Mitchell Oliver. Blackburn and Cotton earned helpers.
Brett Mennear neatly deflected a point shot by Mac Ferner to make it 3-0 Warriors at 5:55 of the second period. Kylar Hope added further insurance three minutes later as the Warriors enjoyed a 5-on-3 power play with Linden Hora and Anthony Latina in the box.
The Vipers moved the puck around nicely on a 5-on-3 seven minutes later, but either couldn’t get pucks through shooting lanes, fanned on back-door attempts, passed one too many times or were denied by goalie Andy Desautels.
The Vipers switched to goalie Jared Schamerhorn for the start of the third period, but that moved failed to ignite any offensive push although Vernon outshot West Kelowna 8-3 in the final 20 minutes.
Vernon falls to 2-1-0-1 and West Kelowna improves to 3-1 in the tight Interior Division. The Vipers were without 20-year-old alternate captain T.J. Dumonceaux up front and captain/d-man Riley Guenther and rookie dee Luke Shiplo due to injuries and illness.
The Vipers entertain the 0-2 Langley Rivermen Sunday in a 2 p.m. matinee.
