It was not the opening to the BC Hockey League 2024 season the West 琉璃神社 Warriors wanted.

Coming off a 9-0 thrashing by the Cranbrook Bucks on Friday, Sept. 20, the Warriors dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Smoke Eaters in Trail on Sept. 21. Trail鈥檚 (3) Jason Stefanek scored the only goal of the first period at the 18:19 mark. 

There was a scary moment for West 琉璃神社 in the final seconds of the period as Smoke Eaters forward Dylan Lariviere ran Warriors defenceman Brady Flynn from behind into the corner boards. Lariviere received a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.  Flynn did not return to the game.

The Warriors struck early in the second as Jack Pridham (1) tied the game 1-1 at 0:32 on the power play. Elias Callgren and Callum Hughes had the assists. Hughes netted his own power-play goal at 4:04 putting West 琉璃神社 up 2-1, with Pridham and Jackson Kyrkostas assisting. The Smoke Eaters tied the game at 12:52 as Jack Ziliotto (2) found the back of the net on the power play. Laz Giardina (1) put West 琉璃神社 up 3-2 with just under three minutes left in the period.

It looked like that鈥檚 how the game might end until Trail鈥檚 Noah Ziskie (1) tied the game 3-3 at 18:03 of the third period. Lucal Lemieux (2) scored unassisted in the extra frame to give the Smoke Eaters a 4-3 win. 

The Warriors outshot the Smoke Eaters 37/30 and went 2/5 on the power play and killed three of four penalties.

West 琉璃神社 hosts the Vernon Vipers at Royal LePage for their home opener on Friday, Sept. 27.