West Kelowna Warriors embarrassed by Silverbacks in Salmon Arm

SALMON ARM – The West Kelowna Warriors don't want to remember their first game of 2015, at least on the scoreboard, as they fell 7-1 to Salmon Arm on Friday at the Shaw Center.

The Silverbacks would get on the board on a five-on-three from an Andrew Farny point shot that beat Colten Lancaster, who replaced Brett Huber in goal ten minutes in.

Huber, an affiliate from the Summerland Steam of the KIJHL, appeared to tweak something when making a save, and exited the game. Lancaster from Pursuit of Excellence, made his BCHL debut in relief.

Shots were an even six-six after the first period, as Salmon Arm got it to a 2-0 lead thanks to Ross Heidt early on in period two.

Andrew Johnson replied for West Kelowna on their own five-on-three, sliding the puck past Angus Redmond on a scramble.

An odd goal would come moments later, as Farny's shot shorthanded slipped through Lancaster, but the whistle went before the puck rolled into the net.

With no players around it, the officials decided that the whistle shouldn't have been blown, and the puck crossed the line just after it, so it stood as a good goal.

The lead would be extended to 4-1 late in the period as Taro Hirose got a gift and deposited into a wide open net after a bounce that everyone thought went to the corner.

The third period would see three more goals tacked on, as Cam Coutre got his first BCHL goal, followed by Colton Thibault and the hat-trick goal from Farny.

Shots on goal were 27-23 West Kelowna.

The Warriors return to action Saturday Jan. 3, 2015 at Royal Lepage Place vs. Merritt. Puck drops at 7 p.m.