West Kelowna Warriors score a come-from-behind win in Trail

TRAIL – The coaching staff wanted them to be more physical and get to the dirty areas. The West Kelowna Warriors answered, scoring a 4-3 double overtime win against the Smoke Eaters at the Cominco Arena in Trail.

The Warriors got out to a more physical start in the opening frame, finishing their checks on the forecheck.

They would be rewarded at 9:53 when Warriors forward Jordan Masters put a rebound past Smokies' netminder Brett Clark.

In the second period, West Kelowna went with a five forward set on the power-play and controlled the puck for 1:45 before strong checking from Trail's Charlie Zuccarini would spring teammate Jake Lucchini who made a nice move around West Kelowna's Andy Desautels to tie the score 1-1.

Just 32 seconds later, great work from Warrior Brett Mennear down low got the puck to the front of the goal, and he poked it free for linemate Kylar Hope to tuck it around Trail's Clark to make it 2-1.

The third period would start with a goal from Josh Bly to make it 3-1 Warriors.

Trail would battle back grabbing a goal from Zuccharini and then at tie it up at 8:07 with a goal from Connor Brown-Maloski to send it to overtime tied at 3-3.

Nothing would be solved in the first overtime as Warrior's Bly and Andrew Johnson couldn’t bury their breakaway chances.

Just 16 seconds into the second overtime frame, Kristian Blumenschein would put the perfect shot past Clark to give the Warriors the win, and help keep them on pace with the Vernon Vipers and the Merritt Centennials.

Next action for West Kelowna is on Saturday, Dec. 13 at home against Coquitlam. It's Teddy Bear Night so bring a stuffed animal and throw it onto the ice when the Warriors score their first goal.