PHOTO: James Maclennan
The Spruce Grove Saints built a three-goal lead through the first half of the game, but the West Kelowna Warriors rallied with three unanswered goals before winning in a shootout to complete the comeback.
Both teams opened the game with their starting goaltenders, Ryan De Kok for the Saints and Angelo Zol for the Warriors. The early minutes featured several penalties, but both penalty kills held strong.
Spruce Grove broke through midway through the period when Chris Battaini opened the scoring at 12:30, finishing a play set up by Declan Waddick to give the Saints a 1–0 lead. The Saints maintained the advantage through the rest of the period despite additional penalties on both sides.
The Saints extended their lead early in the second period. Just 1:21 in, Declan Waddick capitalized on a loose puck and scored unassisted to make it 2–0.
Spruce Grove continued to control the pace and pushed the lead to 3–0 at 12:35 when Josh Polak found the back of the net. Battaini and Waddick each picked up assists on the play, giving both players multi-point nights.
West Kelowna began their comeback late in the period. On the power play at 17:46, Jace Rask scored with assists from Blake Burke and Carson Pavlowich, cutting the Saints’ lead to 3–1 heading into the third.
The Warriors carried that momentum into the final frame. After a Spruce Grove penalty early in the period, Ruslan Jamaldinov scored on the power play at 8:26 with assists from Natan Éthier and Dylan Krayer, bringing West Kelowna within one goal.
Late in the game, the Warriors pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker. The strategy paid off when Olivier Chan scored at 17:51, tying the game 3–3 and completing the three-goal comeback.
The overtime period featured chances at both ends, but both goaltenders stood tall. De Kok turned aside several opportunities for the Warriors while Zol shut the door on the Saints, sending the game to a shootout.
Spruce Grove struck first in the shootout when Declan Waddick scored on the opening attempt. However, West Kelowna responded with goals from Natan Éthier and Ruslan Jamaldinov. With Battaini stopped on the Saints’ final attempt, Jamaldinov’s goal stood as the shootout winner, securing a 4–3 victory for the Warriors.
