More than pride will be on the line when the West Kelowna Warriors and Vernon Vipers meet for the first time this season Saturday night at Kal Tire Place.
Heading into the weekend, the Okanagan rivals share top spot in the 乌鸦传媒檚 Interior Division.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 obviously a big game, Vernon乌鸦传媒檚 a big rival, they乌鸦传媒檙e right with us and they always have a good team,乌鸦传媒� said Warriors captain Jared Marino. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a tough building to play in, so we乌鸦传媒檒l need to get off to a good start.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e going to battle these guys a lot over the next while, so we need to send a message to them that we乌鸦传媒檙e here to compete.乌鸦传媒�
The Warriors (11-5-0) and Vipers (10-4-2) will meet six times this season, including four times in the next month, with each game sure to carry weight in the division standings.
But the valley rivals aren乌鸦传媒檛 the only teams with designs on first place in the Interior. Trail and Wenatchee are just a point off the pace, while the Penticton Vees are only two in arrears of West Kelowna and Vernon.
While the Warriors like their position through 16 games of the regular season, Marino said there乌鸦传媒檚 plenty of work yet to be done.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e playing pretty well, but obviously it乌鸦传媒檚 still early, there乌鸦传媒檚 a long way to go,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲e want to be a top team in this league and that means not settling for less than what we乌鸦传媒檙e capable of. That comes with showing up every day and we have to do that in a division as tough as ours.乌鸦传媒�
The Warriors will see another division rival on Sunday as they visit the Merritt Centennials in a 2 p.m. matinee at Nicola Valley Arena.
West Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 next home action is Friday, Nov. 3 against Penticton.
Stevenson commits to UNH乌鸦传媒�
Warriors乌鸦传媒� forward Chase Stevenson has committed to the University of New Hampshire Wildcats for 2019-20 collegiate hockey season.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound West Kelowna native has played in 52 career games with the Warriors, scoring 13 goals and adding 28 assists.
乌鸦传媒淚 couldn乌鸦传媒檛 be more excited to commit to UNH,乌鸦传媒� said Stevenson, 18. 乌鸦传媒淎fter going on my official visit and touring the school, I knew UNH was the spot for me.乌鸦传媒�
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