The West Kelowna Warriors are one win away from qualifying for the RBC Cup junior A hockey national tournament.
They made that possible Thursday afternoon in Estevan, Sask., when they beat the Saskatchewan-champion Melfort Mustangs 4-1 to wrap up their round-robin play at the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup.
Brett Mennear was in on three of the goals for the Warriors with a goal and two assists. Jonathan Desbiens, Kylar Hope and former Prince George Spruce Kings forward Bryan Basilico also scored for West Kelowna. Prince George minor hockey graduates Liam Blackburn and Jake LeBrun, who play forward positions for the Warriors, were held off the scoreboard.
Travis Mayan was only Mustang shooter to get a puck past Warriors goalie Keelan Williams, who made 20 saves. Shots were 43-21 in the Warriors' favour.
The win vaults West Kelowna (3-1-0) into the first-versus-second playoff game Saturday night (6 p.m. PT) against the Brooks Bandits (4-0-0), who posted a 6-4 win Thursday over the host Estevan Bruins (0-4-0) to clinch first place in the tournament standings. The Bandits, who won the Alberta Junior Hockey League title, scored four unanswered goals in the third period, including an empty-netter, to lock up the victory.
In Saturday's third-versus-fourth playoff, starting at 1 p.m. PT, Melfort (1-3-0) will play the Manitoba champion Portage Terriers (2-1-1). The winner will play the loser of the Brooks-West Kelowna game on Sunday for the second national championship berth.
The RBC Cup will be played May 14-22 in Lloydminster, Sask.
