Snakes sting Warriors

Photo: LisaMPhoto

The undermanned West Kelowna Warriors dropped their second in a row Friday night, falling 4-3 to the Vernon Vipers at Kal Tire Place.

The Warriors dressed just 18 players for Friday's tilt with their division rival. two under the 20-player limit.

Matt Kowalski remains out of the lineup after serving the third game of a four game suspension handed out from a blow to the head penalty taken in the club's final playoff game last season. Mike Hardman missed the game after being hit in the face with a puck last Saturday, as did forward Brandon Dent.

Willie Reim, who missed the opening game of the season while also serving a suspension at the end of last season, scored twice for the Warriors. Defenceman Declan Douthard had the other, his first in the BC Hockey League.

Josh Latta with two, Michael Young and Nicholas Wildgoose scored for the Vipers.

After a scoreless first, Latta got the Vipers on the board with a pair of goals a little more than three minutes apart early in the first.

Twice in the period, the Warriors were able to claw their way back to within a goal,  but, on both occasions, the Vipers answered to restore the two-goal lead.

The backbreaker, a goal from Wildgoose in the final minute of the middle frame.

The Vipers dominated much of the final period, holding the Warriors to just four shots over the final 20 minutes. Reim's second of the night with just 10 seconds left was too little, too late.

Aidan Hosein turned away 19 of the 22 shots he faced, while Connor Hopkins, making his third straight start, faced 42 shots in the loss.

Both teams are back in action Saturday. The Warriors will entertain reigning BCHL champion Wenatchee while the Vipers welcome the Trail Smoke Eaters.