The West Kelowna Warriors have taken over the top spot in the BCHL91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Interior Conference.

On Friday night (Jan. 5), in their first home game in 2024, the Warriors handled the Merritt Centennials, winning 5-0.

It was one of the quickest starts of the season for the Warriors as Jack Pridham scored 39 seconds into the game to give West Kelowna a 1-0 lead.

Later in the frame, captain Brennan Nelson scored his sixth of the season, making it 2-0.

In the second period, Viggo Nordström scored his third goal of the campaign as the Warriors took a 3-0 lead into the third period.

The Warriors increased their lead to 5-0, using third-period goals from Jackson Kyrkostas, his 14th of the season, and Pridham, who scored his second of the game and 13th this season.

Goaltender Rorke Applebee made 18 saves to earn his third shutout of the year.

With the win, the Warriors are 11-0-2 since Nov. 22. They are now 21-6-4-0 on the season, sitting first in the Interior Conference with 46 points. Penticton also has 46 points but the Warriors have the current advantage. In the Coastal Conference, the top team, the Surrey Eagles, also have 46 points (22-4-2-0).

The Warriors look to continue their streak on Saturday night as they welcome the Cranbrook Bucks (13-18-1-0 - sixth Interior Conference). Puck drop is at 7 p.m.

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