Warriors, Patton blank PG

Scott Patton turned aside everything fired his way and West Kelowna jumped on a tired Prince George Spruce Kings early in a Warriors 5-0 win Sunday at Royal LePage Place.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Scott Patton stretches out to deny Jeremiah Luedtke. It was one of 42 saves as Patton and the Warriors blanked Prince George 5-0.

Patton stopped 42 shots in registering his first career BC Hockey League win.

"That game was a lot of fun but more importantly they're a really good team over there so we knew what we had to do," says Patton.

"Anytime you stop all the pucks I wouldn't say it's a reflection of the goaltender but it's a reflection of a team. I think we'll all really enjoy this and keep moving forward."

Patton gave credit to his defence for clearing out the front of the net and allowing him to see most of the shots fired his way.

The Warriors took advantage of a Prince George team playing its third game in less than three days.

West Kelowna scored four times on their first eight shots and hung on the rest of the way.

Michael Bounincontri led the way with a goal and two assists while newcomer Brayden Gelsinger scored once and added an assist giving him three goals and three assists in three games since being acquired from Cowichan Valley earlier in the week.

Mac Ferner with his first of the season, Brett Mennear and Jason Cotton also scored for the Warriors.

Buonincontri got the Warriors rolling with what proved to be the game winner five minutes into the first when he stole the puck at centre ice, broke in all alone and beat starter Jesse Jenks to the blocker side.

Ferner doubled the lead four minutes later when his wrist shot from the point beat Jenks high glove side.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Jason Cotton and Spruce Kings' Cole Todd come together during the third period of Sunday's BCHL game at Royal LePage Place.

Mennear chased Jenks from the next a little more than two minutes later when his wrist shot from the left circle beat Jenks high to the glove side.

The goal was set up by a picture perfect blind pass from Buonincontri in the neutral zone that sprung Mennear down the left wing.

Jenks was pulled in favour of Alex Brooks-Potts after allowing three goals on just six shots.

Gelsinger made it 4-0 minutes later when he won a race for a loose puck in the Spruce Kings end and threw the puck on goal from a sharp angle that found a way past Brooks-Potts.

Cotton rounded out the scoring in the third when he deflected Kristian Blumenschein's point shot on a Warriors power-play.

Despite the lopsided win score Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster says the play on the ice wasn't indicative of a 5-0 score.

"It's like you said you don't like to critique wins but we were very opportunistic early, got a couple fortuitous bounces and we are lucky to get up early," says Warriors head coach Ferster.

"Give them credit, playing three in three with a heck of a lot of travel. Our goalie had to make some saves but again I think we were fortunate to get that win."

Ferster says the team still has some things to clean up but, in the ultra-tight Interior Division, he'll take two points any time he can get them.

"We're still a work in progress...it's about guys all buying in.

You can't four guys on the ice buying in or three guys, all five guys have to buy in on the ice for team defence. Like I said it's still a work in progress."

Sunday's win kept the Warriors three points up on the third place Vernon Vipers after Vernon won 3-0 in Trail.

Merritt is five back with Salmon Arm six behind the second place Warriors.

West Kelowna remains 10 points behind Penticton with two games in hand.

The Warriors travel to Langley for a Nov 11 tilt against the Eagles before returning home to host the Centennials Friday.