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West Kelowna Warriors show no rust after extended break, beat Merritt 8-3

Michael Salandra and Felix Caron both had fout-point nights
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The West Kelowna Warriors took it to the Merritt Centennials on Friday, Jan. 26, beating them 8-3 at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. (Tami Quan Photography/@BCHLWarriors/X)

The West Kelowna Warriors scored a touchdown and completed the two-point conversion as they beat the Merritt Centennials 8-3 on Friday night.

In their first game after a 12-day break, the Warriors came out flying and it started when captain Brennan Nelson and Isaiah Norlin scored 27 seconds apart from each other just over five minutes in, making it 2-0. It was Nelson91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s eighth of the season and Norlin91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s ninth.

Later in the period, Norlin scored his second of the game, followed by Michael Salandra91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s 15th of the campaign as it was 4-0 West Kelowna. In the frame, the team91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s leading scorer Felix Caron collected three assists.

With 28 seconds left in the first, Michael Felsing scored for Merritt to make it 4-1.

Halfway through the second period, Felsing scored his second of the game to cut the deficit in half.

However, just over a minute later, Callum Hughes scored for the Warriors to regain their three-goal lead. Jack Pridman and Norlin collected the assists.

For the second straight period, Merritt scored in the final minute of the frame. Aidan Lindbald scored with 20 seconds left in the period to make it 5-3.

But the third period was all West Kelowna as they added to their lead.

Salandra scored his second of the game on the penalty shot, followed by Caron91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s 22nd of the season and Trent Wilson91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s shorthanded goal, his 13th goal this year.

Both Salandra and Caron each had four-point nights in the Warriors 23rd win of the season. With his goal, Caron is tied for the first in the BCHL in goals.

Goaltender Michael Dellarusso made 26 saves in the win.

On Saturday night, the Warriors (23-7-5-0) return to Royal LePage Place to host one of the most fun nights of the season. Tonight against the Chilliwack Chiefs (18-13-3-0), the Warriors will be the Peachland Warriors instead of West Kelowna and will be wearing their specialty Peachland jerseys. Since starting this annual night two seasons ago, the team is 2-0 in these peach-coloured jerseys.

Chilliwack comes into the game fifth in the Coastal Conference and is coming off a 3-1 win over the Penticton Vees on Friday night.

Saturday night91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s puck drop is at 7 p.m.

READ MORE: Cristall collects 3 points but Kelowna Rockets fall in the final seconds

READ MORE: Pushback on City of Kelowna91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s plan for future of Prospera Place

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Jordy Cunningham

About the Author: Jordy Cunningham

Hailing from Ladner, B.C., I have been passionate about sports, especially baseball, since I was young. In 2018, I graduated from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops with a Bachelor of Journalism degree
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