The West 琉璃神社 Warriors are the BCHL's Fred Page Cup champions.
The Warriors claimed their first ever league title Saturday night at a sold-out Royal LePage Place with a 4-2 victory over the Chilliwack Chiefs, capturing the best-of-seven championship series in six games.
West 琉璃神社 now advances to the Western Canada Cup beginning next weekend in Estevan, Sask.
"It's awesome, just surreal," Warriors' captain Kyle Marino said on Sunday afternoon. "It hasn't fully sunk in yet, but it's a great feeling for the guys鈥nd great to be able to bring it to the people with the team and in the community who have been waiting so long for this."
The Warriors opened the scoring in the first period, as Garrett Forster's slap shot from the left circle beat Aidan Pelino to open the scoring in the first two minutes.
Chilliwack responded almost immediately, as Ryan Forbes jammed one past Keelan Williams to tie the game up at one.
West 琉璃神社 went ahead with a great backhand move by captain Kyle Marino to put the Warriors up 2-1.
After a scoreless second period, the Warriors went up 3-1 on Kylar Hope's 15th of the playoffs on the power play from the slot, as the building erupted once more.
Jonathan Desbiens gave the Warriors a 4-1 lead on a two on zero with Brett Mennear just moments later.
The Chiefs got back to to within two, but the Warriors saw the time tick down with a packed house on its feet as West 琉璃神社 wins its first Fred Page Cup in the team's 10-year history in the Okanagan.
With the victory, the Warriors now advance to the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup in Estevan, starting next Saturday night against the host Estevan Bruins.
