A three-goal performance by Willie Reim was the driving force in the West Kelowna Warriors outscoring the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks 5-3 for their fourth straight B.C. Hockey League win on Friday.
Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowWillie Reim leads the Warriors with seven goals on the season. The North Oaks, MN native, heading to the NCAA Div. 1 Air Force Falcons next season, netted his team-leading fifth, sixth and seventh goals as the Warriors — 5-3 on the season and in first place in a tight Interior Division — broke open a 2-2 tie after two periods by dominating the third at Royal LePage Place.
Reim, who scored 12 goals in 52 games in his rookie season (2017-18), notched his first goal on in the first period while adding a second at 12:47 of the third and completing the hat trick with a power play marker with 2:04 remaining in the game.
Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowParm Dhaliwal's first goal of the season opened the scoring at Royal LePage Place.Parm Dhaliwal, with his first of the season, opened the scoring for the Warriors as the hosts led 2-0 after 20 minutes.
A penalty-filled second period saw Salmon Arm take advantage of a pair of West Kelowna penalties to even the score on tallies by Olson Werenka and Justin Wilson.
Mike Hardman scored his fifth goal of the season in the third period while Max Bulawka assisted on two of the Reim goals and Warrior defenceman, Wyatt Head, also contributed a pair of assists.
Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowConnor Hopkins stopped 28 shots for his fourth straight win in goal.Connor Hopkins, the reigning BCHL player of the week, continued his stingy play, stopping 28 of 31 shots for his fourth straight win.
The Warriors fired 36 shots at Salmon Arm goalie Ethan Langenegger.
The two teams are back at it again on Saturday — this time in Salmon Arm — beginning at 7 p.m. The Warriors’ next home game is set for Oct. 7 when they play host to the Victoria Grizzlies.
Photo Credit: Lorne White/KelownaNowMike Hardman upped his season goal total to five with a tally in the third period.
