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There were some scary moments along the way, but the West Kelowna Warriors are onto the second round of the BCHL playoffs and they’ll tell you that’s all that matters.
After jumping out to a 3-0 series lead, the Warriors let the Cranbrook Bucks crawl back into the series and force a game seven at Royal LePage Place on Tuesday night.
But any doubt that had creeped into the mind of West Kelowna fans was thrown aside during a convincing 5-1 win that saw five different Warriors find the back of the net.
Exhale, West Kelowna
— West Kelowna Warriors (@BCHLWarriors) April 17, 2024
Series. Over.
The Warriors advance to Round 2 of the playoffs following a 5-1 win in Game 7 over the Cranbrook Bucks!#BCHLPlayoffs | @StoneSisters pic.twitter.com/E8yUx1tC3k
Captain Brennan Nelson opened the scoring in the dying seconds of the first period, wiring home a one-timer from a tough angle for his first goal of the 2024 playoffs.
It was a dominant opening frame, with the Warriors outshooting the Bucks 21-5, and the home team kept that momentum going in the second period.
Finally, with just over seven minutes left in the period, Viggo Nordström doubled the Warriors lead with a powerplay goal as another one-time effort beat Bucks goalie Carter Capton five-hole.
Less than two minutes later, 17-year-old Dylan Krayer, who has been a very pleasant surprise since joining the team late in the season, extended the lead to 3-0.
Five different goal scorers came together as the Warriors earned a 5-1 victory in Game 7 over the Cranbrook Bucks on Tuesday night at RLP!
— West Kelowna Warriors (@BCHLWarriors) April 17, 2024
GAME RECAP 📰 | https://t.co/yQ9SdkVw23
📸 @tamiquanphotos #BCHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/5hvw0HNSwN
After Felix Caron made it 4-0 in the first minutes of the third period, Cranbrook finally got on the board courtesy of a Julian Frias shorthanded goal.
That was as close as the visitors would come, however, as Jackson Kyrkostas sealed the series by putting the puck into an empty net with just over three minutes left to play.
Although the Warriors outshot the Bucks 38-19 in game seven, Matthew DellaRusso was solid when he needed to be and made 18 saves in the vital playoff win.
🤝
— West Kelowna Warriors (@BCHLWarriors) April 17, 2024
Thank you @CranbrookBucks on a hard fought seven-game series#BCHLPlayoffs | @BCHockeyLeague pic.twitter.com/Cxp0NRrIIj
With the Bucks finally out of the way, the Warriors will take on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the second round of the BCHL playoffs.
In the other Interior Conference matchup, it will be an all-Okanagan showdown between the Penticton Vees and the Vernon Vipers.
The Surrey Eagles, Chilliwack Chiefs, Victoria Grizzlies and Alberni Valley Bulldogs remain alive in the Coastal Conference side of the playoff bracket.
West Kelowna's round two matchup with Salmon Arm will begin this weekend at Royal LePage Place. Here is the full schedule:
- Game 1: Friday, April 19 @ Royal LePage Place (7 pm)
- Game 2: Saturday, April 20 @ Royal LePage Place (7 pm)
- Game 3: Tuesday, April 23 @ Shaw Centre (6 pm)
- Game 4: Wednesday, April 24 @ Shaw Centre (6 pm)
- *Game 5: Friday, April 26 @ Royal LePage Place (7 pm)
- *Game 6: Saturday, April 27 @ Shaw Centre (6 pm)
- *Game 7: Tuesday, April 30 @ Royal LePage Place (7 pm)
(* = if necessary)
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