Warriors soar past Cents

Photo: Wayne Moore

On a night where every shot seemed to be a Grade A chance and both goaltenders stole the show, it was a creative, "Did-you-see-that goal?" that had everybody talking.

It was Matt Kowalski's version of the lacrosse goal, and it couldn't have come at a better time for the West Kelowna Warriors.

After they were shut out in the home opener a week ago, and stymied in the early going against the Merritt Centennials on Saturday, Kowalski dug into his bag of tricks for the Warriors' first goal on home ice and his fourth of the year in a 3-1 victory.

Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster didn't see the goal until the intermission. But, guaranteed, all 900-plus fans inside Royal LePage Place saw it.

Kowalski said he learned the move a few years ago at Pursuit of Excellence, but didn't perfect it until he got to the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers.

"Sheldon Remple, he was my idol. He was the guy I wanted to be," recalled Kowalski.

"He was the guy who taught me how to do it in one move and be confident enough to just let it go."

Kowalski says he didn't plan to use the lacrosse scoop move, but was trying to make up for a bad play earlier and said instinct took over.

Whatever it was, it gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead on the power play midway through the opening period, and gave the team the spark it needed.

Just 63 seconds later, Jared Marino potted his first of the season, taking a backdoor feed from Cavin Tilsley to double the lead.

Chase Stevenson made it 3-0 early in the second when he banged home a rebound off Chase Dubois' initial chance.

Cole Demers' bid for a shutout in his first start of the young season was foiled with less than two minutes left in the third when Jack Vincent beat him after a sloppy Warriors turnover at centre ice.

Both netminders were spectacular throughout the night. Demers was especially sharp early, making two incredible saves in the first minute and a few more before the Warriors finally got rolling.

"The first 10 minutes of any game is so crucial, and it's something we talk about," said Ferster.

"You want to set the tone in tone first 10 minutes. And, Cole making those saves when he did, it's too bad he didn't get the shutout, because he's been so good."

Merritt netminder Vincent Duplessis stopped 33 shots and, without his spectacular netminding, the Warriors might have easily hit seven, eight or more.

Kowalski says he's not worried about the team missing as many opportunities as it did Saturday. He says the team is still getting to know each other, and those will eventually go in.

That feeling-out process will continue with the annual BCHL Showcase this week in Chilliwack.

The Warriors will play Coquitlam at 7:30 Wednesday night and Cowichan Valley 4 p.m. Thursday.