WESTLOCK – The Westlock Senior Warriors got their first win of their 2022-2023 North Central Hockey League season Oct. 23, dumping the Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-1 on the strength of a three-goal, third-period outburst.
Captain Mike Ivey called the win a “gutsy effort” noting they were missing a handful of key players for the Sunday-afternoon tilt, while backup goalie Jordan Duffy “was outstanding” after being called upon after starter Chase Langdale went down seven minutes into the game.
Austin Grundner got the Warriors on the board late in the first period, while the Pontiacs were finally able to tie the contest with only 18 second left in the second. The Warriors came out swinging in the third, with Josh Kaliel netting the eventual game winner at 18:03, while goals from Chris Brand, three minutes later, and Mackenzie Mindus, with 24 seconds to play, sealed the deal.
“We got a couple of huge couple goals to start the period from Kaliel and Brand and were able to shut down Bonnyville’s offence and hold the lead,” said Ivey.
Through the first handful of weekends, the Camrose Crush sit atop the NCHL with a perfect 4-0-0-0 record, while the Lacombe Generals are nipping at their heels at 3-0-0-0. The Morinville Kings stand at 2-1-0-0, the Red Deer Rustlers are 2-2-0-0 and the Warriors are 1-1-0-0. The Devon Barons and Pontiacs are both 0-3-0-0, while Fort Saskatchewan sits at 0-2-0-0.
The Warriors will face the Kings this coming Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8:30 p.m.
