The West Kelowna Warriors celebrated their 10th anniversary in style on Saturday, winning the B.C. Hockey League championship for the first time with a 4-2 win over the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs.
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Kylar Hope and Jonathan Desbiens both scored their 15th goals of the playoffs in the third period to clinch the Fred Page Cup victory in the sixth game of the best-of-seven final series in front of 1,499 fans at Royal LePage Place.
The Warriors, took a 2-1 lead in the first period on goals by Garrett Forster and Kyle Marino, while Ryan Forbes replied for the Chiefs.
After a scoreless second period, the Warriors took charge, led by their most potent offensive threats in Hope and Desbiens.
Keelan Williams, playing in place of injured Matthew Greenfield, stopped 20 of 22 shots to earn the win in goal, while Aidan Pelino took the loss in the Chiefs’ net, giving up four goals on 25 shots in the tight-checking affair.
The Warriors will now represent the BCHL at the Western Canada Cup tournament in Estevan beginning April 29. That tournament will feature winners from the four Western Canadian junior A leagues plus the host squad from Estevan.
Both the Western Canada champion and the runner-up will advance the RBC Cup in Lloydminster, Alta./Sask. for the national junior A crown. Also competing will be the junior champions from Eastern Canada, Central Canada and the host team.
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