Warriors not wild for Wild

Photo: Wayne Moore

Christophe Tellier scores the insurance goal for Wenatchee Saturday.

The West Kelowna Warriors dropped their third in a row Saturday night, falling 4-2 to the reigning BCHL champion Wenatchee Wild before an announced crowd of 750 at Royal LePage Place.

The Warriors jumped out to 1-0 and 2-1 leads, but it was a pair of power play goals in the final period that proved to be the Warriors downfall.

Mason Richey and Chase Dubois scored for the Warriors on the evening.

Warriors head coach Geoff Grimwood said the club played well in spurts, but agreed the team didn't put enough pucks to the net.

"We still have a ,long way to go and we have a lot of work to do," said Grimwood.

"But, I like our work ethic. I think the guys have really worked hard. I think we have to get more cohesive as a group...if we do that, we'll be fine.

Richey opened the scoring six minutes into the game when he used his speed to create a two-on-one, and tapped home Willie Reim's centering pass for his second of the campaign.

With the score tied at 1-1 early in the second, Dubois found himself in the right spot in front of the Wenatchee net. A shot bounced off a Wild defender right to Dubois, who deposited the puck into the open side for his first.

Wenatchee tied it again midway through the period, when Lucas Sowder's wrist shot from just inside the blueline deflected off a Warrior and behind Hayden Missler, who was making his first start of the season.

The Warriors took just two penalties in the game, both in the third, and both found the back of the net.

On the first, Sowder drove to the net from the corner, and slid a cross-crease pass to Jacob Modry, who tucked the puck into the open side.

Christophe Tellier sealed it with a little more than two minutes left, as he circled to the front of the net and beat Missler to the far side.

Once again, the Warriors played one man under the 20-man limit. If everyone remains healthy, the Warriors should be able to dress a full roster when they travel to Chilliwack for the BCHL Showcase, when Matt Kowalski returns to the lineup after serving a four game suspension issued following the final game last season.

"it's one of those things," said Grimwood of the short bench.

"On one hand it's a good opportunity for guys, but on the other hand our lack of depth has hurt us."

However, Grimwood refused to blame the short bench on the club's inability to generate much in the way of scoring chances in the final period the past two nights.

He said the players are trying to be too cute right now, suggesting they need a 'shot first' mentality.

"Everything that's wrong right now we can address in practice.

"We just have to work on the things we need to work on, and we'll get there."

The Warriors, 1-3 on the season, face off against 4-0 Prince George Thursday afternoon and 1-2 Nanaimo Friday afternoon at the Showcase in Chilliwack.