Mornng Star Staff
Bryant Perrier winced as two of his players took some questionable hits Saturday night at Nor-Val Sports Centre in Armstrong.
The North Okanagan Knights’ head coach/GM was upset at a 4-3 loss to the Kelowna Chiefs, but more choked at the way Reed Cashato and Matthias Urbanski were rocked.
Cashato was injured on a head shot by Tyler Love in the second period and will likely miss Saturday night’s home Kootenay International Junior Hockey League tilt against the 8-1 Osoyoos Coyotes.
“It’s intent to injure with some of their guys,” said Perrier. “Reed was completely blindsided on a line change and they get away with it.”
Love was assessed a minor penalty for head contact and a misconduct.
Later in the period, Urbanski was steamrolled by Brett Witala, who was given a charging major and game misconduct.
“He (Urbanski) went to the hospital and we thought it was a concussion but he got lucky. We know what we’re getting with them (Chiefs) but I told our guys they have to be aware of their surroundings. We took some stupid penalties which were undisciplined. Two points are more important (than retribution) at the end of the day.”
Perrier hopes the league takes a close look at both the Love and Witala penalties. Love has 30 penalty minutes in five games, while Witala has 50 minutes in nine tilts.
Logan Geefs put the Knights up 1-0 at 12:57 of the first period on a powerplay. Jack Berger, who took game star for North Okanagan with 2+1, and Jeff Schlenker earned helpers. It was Geefs’ fifth goal of the season.
Aidan Bar-Lev-Wise levelled the score 15 seconds later with Brendan Mongey and Love pocketing assists.
Ryan Pereverzoff put Kelowna in front five minutes later on a powerplay, Dakota Little and Witala collected assists.
Berger, a late cut of the BCHL West Kelowna Warriors, counted his first of the season at 13:48 of the second period. Dean Whitcomb and Cameron Welch set up the goal.
Joel Scrimbit and Brody Dale, with his team-high seventh snipe, converted goals three minutes apart midway through the final 20 to put the Chiefs ahead 3-2. Dale was chosen the Chiefs’ game star.
Berger clicked on a powerplay wirh 2:26 remaining. Layne Greene and Mitchell Cobbett bagged assists.
The Knights (4-5-1) pulled veteran goalie Daniel Paul after Kelowna’s fourth goal in favour of rookie Conor Webb. Kelowna beat Paul twice with deflections.
“Conor went in and shut the door on them; he played very well,” said Perrier.
The Knights outshot the Chiefs 31-27, including a 15-7 margin in the second period. Kelowna improved to 6-2.
