The West Kelowna Warriors never led until the game was over as they rallied for a 4-3 double overtime win in Merritt Friday night.

Photo: Contributed

The West Kelowna Warriors celebrate Josh Monk's overtime winner.

Josh Monk's second of the game 23 seconds after the start of the second extra frame pulls the Warriors to within one point of the second place Centennials in the BCHL's Interior Division.

Playing three-on-three, the veteran defenceman converted a Brett McKinnon feed to give the Warriors their third consecutive victory.

Monk earlier tied the game on a point-shot that eluded the screened Tyler Steel at 7:23 of the third.

The Warriors trailed 2-0 and 3-1 before starting the comeback.

Merritt opened the scoring when Scott Patterson jammed a rebound underneath Tyler Briggs midway through the first. The Centennials doubled their lead early in the second when Dylan Chanter beat Briggs on an odd-man rush.

The Warriors finally got on the board midway through the second on an Adam Plant tally. Just over a minute later a Tyler Martin power play goal restored the Cents two-goal cushion.

Trailing by a pair, the Warriors became more aggressive and began to take the play to their hosts.

Late in the second, Marcus Basara out manoeuvred Tyler Steel from in close to get the Warriors back within one and paved the way for Monk’s heroics.

“It was a great win for us,” says Monk.

"It’s just a good morale boost, too. Coming in here and winning the first game of the season, it gives us a bit of a boost for the rest of the year."

The Warriors weekend road trip continues Saturday night in Salmon Arm.  

--with files from Jon Zacks