Image Credit: Contributed/Penticton Vees
December 20, 2014 - 11:54 AM
PENTICTON - Penticton Vees Co-Captain Patrick Sexton picked the perfect time to score his first goal of the season. Sexton scored what turned out to be the game-winner late in the first period, in the Vees 4-2 win over West Kelowna Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Vees (27-5-2-1) snapped the Warriors (18-11-0-5) three-game win streak and picked up their first win in three games. The two teams finish the home-and-away weekend series Saturday at Royal LePage Place.
Lewis Zerter-Gossage, Cody DePourcq and Patrick Sexton scored in an action-packed first period. Zerter-Gossage opened the scoring just shy of the five-minute mark, as he found the puck in the Warriors crease and shoveled in his 13th at 4:58.
DePourcq doubled the Vees lead just past the eight-minute mark, as he knocked a fluttering puck out of the air and over the arm of the Warrior’s Scott Patton; DePourcq bagging his eighth on a power-play 8:04.
The Warriors Josh Bly cut into the Vees lead after he cleaned up a rebound off the rush. Brayden Gelsinger was stopped by Hunter Miska but Bly tucked in the rebound at 13:30.
Sexton, who was goalless in 22 games coming into Friday, restored the Vees two-goal lead late in the opening frame. Zerter-Gossage found Sexton open in the left-circle and he hammered a slap-shot on the glove-side of Patton at 18:12; his first goal since February 14th of last season.
Eight seconds after that Sexton goal, Mitch Newsome went toe-to-toe with the Warriors Mac Ferner in a spirited scrap. Ferner came after Newsome after the Vees forward laid a hit on Tanner Campbell in the slot.
Josh Bly was the only player to get on the scoresheet in the second period. Bly again was in the right spot near the Vees net, as he cleaned up another rebound at 2:17.
The Vees got a big insurance marker early in the third period, as Dakota Conroy scored from the slot four-minutes in. Conroy scooped up the puck and put a wrist-shot past Patton’s blocker at 3:50; his second in as many games restoring the two-goal lead.
Patton left the game after the Vees four goal, as the Warriors starter appeared to injure his leg. Call-up goalie Jordan Reynolds from the Okanagan Rockets had to come in and finish the third period.
Final Score: 4-2 Vees
Shots: 29-23 Warriors
Power-Plays: Vees 1-2 Warriors 0-2
Three Stars: 1) Lewis Zerter-Gossage 2) Patrick Sexton 3) Josh Bly
Attendance: 2,201
The Vees improve 22-2-1-0 when leading after two periods. Prior to Friday, they lost their last two against West Kelowna when taking a lead into the third. DePourcq’s first period goal was his first in four games. Friday was the fourth and final game at the SOEC in the seven-game season series between the two teams.
The weekend series shifts to West Kelowna tomorrow, as the two teams play their final game before the annual Christmas break; puck drop is 7pm. Fans can listen to the game on EZ Rock AM 800, or watch online at www.fasthockey.com.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014