Warriors roll into break

Photo: Castanet

The West Kelowna Warriors head into the Christmas break on a four-game winning streak.

The Warriors won their fourth in a row Saturday, holding on for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Nanaimo Clippers at Royal LePage Place.

Parm Dhaliwal got the Warriors on the board 3:24 into the opening period, as his wrist shot from the slot beat Evan DeBrouwer high to the glove side.

It looked as if that may be the only puck to find its way into the net as DeBrouwer and Warriors' Shane Farkas took over after that.

Logan Mostat finally gave Farkas and the Warriors some breathing room just past the midway point of the third. Stephen Kleyson won a battle for the puck deep in the Clippers corner, and found Mostat in the slot.

His quick shot again beat DeBrouwer high to the glove side.

Farkas lost his bid for a shutout when Matt Creamer got credit for a power-play goal the Warriors believed had been kicked in. The goal came with 1:14 left in regulation time and moments after the Clippers missed a glorious chance to get on the board.

Working on the same power-play, Nanaimo hit the goal post from in close, and during the ensuing scramble, the puck made its way to the goal line before a Warrior stick pushed it under Farkas for a whistle.

The Clippers had a late chance in the dying second, but a Nanaimo forward fanned on a 30-footer with half a net to shoot at as time was expiring.

"It was a real solid effort. I thought we didn't give up a lot of chances, even when the shots started to get high," said assistant coach Shae Naka.

"It was another solid effort from our group. I thought our defensive game has really come together the last four games. We've only given up six goals."

He said it was a good way to end things at the break.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the third, the Clippers directed 21 shots toward Farkas in an attempt to get the equalizer. Their push was aided by a string of five power-plays in the final 20 minutes.

"It was unfortunate to be shorthanded as many times as we were in the third period," said Naka.

"We gave up the shots, but I thought we did a much better job clearing pucks, and not giving up too many second chances. We were doing a better job of controlling the battles down low in our own zone."

With the entire Interior Division done until Dec. 29, the Warriors hit the Christmas break deadlocked with the Trail Smoke Eaters for third in the division, each with 35 points.

The two teams trail Vernon by six points and lead Merritt and Salmon Arm by two.

The Warriors hold games in hand on each team in the division.

West Kelowna is off until Dec. 29, when the Smoke Eaters come to town.