NANAIMO, B.C. – The BCHL West Kelowna Warriors continue to write club history and not only managed to stay alive, but overwhelmed the Nanaimo Clippers 5-2 Friday night.
The Clippers seemed poised to win home ice advantage in the Fred Page Cup final round of playoffs after winning two of the three games they needed for the advantage early in double-round-robin play alongside the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Kylar Hope took two markers for the Warriors. Other goals came from Garrett Forster, Connor Sodergren and Quin Foreman.
Nolan Aibel and Gavin Gould took goals for Nanaimo.
The last minute of play Friday night saw ten penalties handed out between both teams.
Shots on goal were nearly even, 42-40, Warriors over the Clippers.
With the decisive win Friday, the Warriors tie up the playoffs at two games a piece for the three BCHL teams and force a game against the Chilliwack Chiefs Sunday, April 10 at 5 p.m. in the Fraser Valley community.
The winner will have home ice advantage for the Fred Page Cup BCHL final.
A game April 12 will determine second place. If West Kelowna loses Sunday, they’ll host Nanaimo. If Chilliwack loses Sunday, they’ll travel to Nanaimo Tuesday.
The Fred Page Cup starts Friday, April 15, and will be complete by Sunday, April 24. It is a best of seven series.
The winner of the Fred Page Cup goes on to the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup (WCC) Friday, April 29 in Estevan, Sask. The top two teams at the WCC go to the RBC Cup national championship May 14 in Lloydminster, Alta.