Warriors skid reaches 7

Photo: Garrett James

Brock Baier

The West Kelowna Warriors early season struggles continued Tuesday night.

The Warriors lost their seventh in a row, 6-1 to the Silverbacks in Salmon Arm, extending their franchise worst start to 1-8-2-0.

The seven straight losses is just two shy of the franchise record nine, established between Oct. 28 and Nov. 19, 2011.

Salmon Arm jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, then put the contest out of reach with three unanswered goals in the third.

Coalson Wolford pounded home a rebound on a power play, then Simon Tassy buried a rebound of his own to give the Silverbacks the early advantage.

Max Bulawka got one of those back in the final minute of the first, with a wrist shot that beat Ethan Langenegger, but the Warriors were unable to turn the momentum of a late goal into a tying goal.

Noah Wakeford extended the lead with just five seconds to go in the second on a play in which the Warriors claim Silverbacks defenceman Akito Hirose put his glove on a puck in the neutral zone, then advanced it in the attacking end with teammates trapped inside.

The play was allowed to continue, leading to the 3-1 goal.

The Silverbacks peppered Warriors goaltenders with 50 shots on the evening. Brock Baier stopped 36 of 41 fired his way before being pulled following the fifth goal.

Johnny Derrick allowed the final goal on nine shots.

The Warriors now head to Penticton for the annual BCHL Showcase Festival.

The event this year is being split between Chilliwack and Penticton.

They'll face Prince George at 10 a.m. Friday and the Vernon Vipers Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Warriors are riding a 10-game winning streak at the Showcase event. Their last defeat in the event came in 2013.