(Submitted by Alex Hoegler, BCHL communications)
The West Kelowna Warriors inched closer to Round 3 with a 2-1 win on the road against the Penticton Vees, giving them a 3-2 series lead with a chance to clinch the series on home ice.
Nicholas Jones scored 8:49 into the second period to give the Vees a 1-0 lead, and that would be the only goal through 40 minutes. However, Penticton couldn’t contain the Warriors’ attack, as Nicholas Rutigliano tied the game 6:38 into the third period.
It would be Rylan Yaremko’s marker with 4:07 to go in the third that stood up as the game-winner to help the Warriors take their first lead of the series, earning him 1st star honours.
Matthew Greenfield made 32 saves for West Kelowna in the victory, while Zachary Driscoll stopped 17 in a losing effort. The Vees, who had not lost consecutive games coming into the playoffs, will now need to end a three-game losing skid to keep their season alive.
Game 6 goes Saturday in West Kelowna at 7 p.m.