The Wenatchee Wild power play has been red hot, scoring on 9 of their 20 power play chances in the first four games of the season. West Kelowna got the first goal of the game, with Mason Richey scoring from the left side on a two-on-one rush. Chad Sasaki had a great chance to tie it up late in the first but his sharp wrister from the left circle was denied by goalie Hayden Missler, who was making his Warriors debut. (He was the backup goalie for the Spruce Grove Saints in last years Doyle Cup.) Sasaki got the better of him moments later, entering the zone on the right side and drilling a low glove side shot into the net. The penalty-free game was tied at 1-1 after 1.

Right off the hop in the second, the Warriors caught a break when a Wild defenseman blocked the left point shot, but it deflected directly to Chase Dubois standing at the wide open side of the net for an easy tap-in and a 2-1 lead. Wenatchee answered to tie the game at 2 on a Lucas Sowder shot from the top of the right circle that deflected and bounced past Missler at 8:03 and the game was tied 2-2 after 2.

Through 40 minutes, there had only been one power play, and that went to the Warriors who couldn’t benefit from it. At 8:52 of the third, Warriors forward Mike Hardman got his stick up, clipping Lucas Sowder to put the Wild on the power play for the first time of the night, and Sowder helped cash it in, taking a pass from Matt Gosiewski down low on the right wing, stepping out front and firing a pass to Jacob Modry who punched it home for a 3-2 lead, his second goal of the season. Cristophe Tellier converted a power play chance for an insurance marker, assisted by Christophe Fillion with 2:07 left to play. Tellier patiently walked out of the right wing corner, navigated his way to a clear shooting lane and finished it off, his third goal of the season. The Warriors pulled Missler for the extra attacker but all for naught as Wenatchee held on for the 4-2 win, outshooting the Warriors 31-19. Cal Sandquist went the distance in his first start of the season.

Wenatchee (3-1-0) now prepares for the BCHL Showcase Tournament in Chilliwack. The Wild face Alberni Valley (2-2-0) on Friday at 1:30 pm, then Chilliwack (2-2-0) at 7:00 pm on Saturday. The Wild Home Opener will be Friday October 12 against the Nanaimo Clippers, and will feature the unveiling of the Championship Banners, a Ring Ceremony, and more.

The Wenatchee Wild are the defending 2018 BCHL Fred Page Cup and Doyle Cup Champions. Stay up to date with the team all summer long on Facebook (facebook.com/wenatcheewildhockey), Twitter (@WenatcheeWild1), YouTube (Wen Wild), Snapchat (wwildhockey), Instagram (Wenatchee_wild), and on the team’s official website (wenatcheewildhockey.com).

For more information, contact:  Arch Ecker – Director of Media Relations / arch@wenatcheewildhockey.com