Image Credit: Cherie Morgan Photography
January 03, 2015 - 10:13 AM
PENTICTON - The Penticton Vees opened up 2015 the way they closed out 2014 and that’s with a win against an Interior rival. Hunter Miska stopped all 30 shots he faced and the Vees got goals from three different players, en route to a 3-0 goose-egg over the Vernon Vipers at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The win, going back to last month, is the Vees third in a row and fifth in as many games against Vernon this season.
Demico Hannoun continued his mastery of the Vipers, as he scored his fourth goal against his former team in the second period. After a scoreless first twenty-minutes, Hannoun opened up the scoring early in the middle frame when Cody DePourcq forced a turnover in behind the Vipers net. DePourcq quickly centered for Hannoun who buried his 17th on the short-side at 4:45.
Vernon’s best chance in the second came off the stick of Riley Brandt but his attempt was thwarted by Miska who threw out both legs for the pad-stack save.
Steen Cooper provided the Vees some breathing room early in the third when he got his stick on a Gabe Bast point-shot. Just after a Vees power-play expired, Bast let go a wrist-shot from the blue-line that was tipped down by Cooper in front. The puck just got through the legs of Danny Todosychuk and trickled across the goal-line at 4:49; Cooper picking up goals in back-to-back games.
Bast then sealed the win with just over a minute left in the third period. With the Vernon net empty, Bast fired a clearing attempt off the glass and the puck, on end, rolled down ice and curled into the vacant Vernon net at 19:52; Bast finishing with a two-point night.
Final Score: 3-0 Vees
Shots: 30-23 Vipers
Power-Plays: Vees 0-2 Vipers 0-1
Three Stars: 1) Hunter Miska 2) Demico Hannoun 3) Gabe Bast
Attendance: 2,341
The win now has the Vees 14 points up on Vernon for top spot in the Interior Division. The Vees bump up their record to 29-5-2-1 and are now 15-2-1-0 at home. The Vees are now perfect in five games against Vernon this year and have won both games at the SOEC by a combined score of 4-0.
The Vees wrap up their weekend tomorrow in Salmon Arm when the visit the surging Silverbacks; puck drop is 7pm. Salmon Arm won their fourth straight game Friday, thumping the West Kelowna Warriors 7-1. Fans can listen to the game on EZ Rock AM 800 or watch online at www.fasthockey.com.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015