Image Credit: Penticton Vees
March 26, 2015 - 9:13 AM
PENTICTON - The Penticton Vees started off the BCHL Round Robin with a convincing 4-1 victory over the Island Division Champion Nanaimo Clippers.
The Vees coming off a thrilling 2-0 game seven victory over the Vernon Vipers Sunday, didn’t disappoint following up with a great effort from top to bottom on Wednesday, and in front of a great crowd of 2,433 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
However the Vees did face some adversity early, as Nanaimo went ahead eight-minutes into the opening frame. Cole Maier picked up a loose puck right in front of the Vees net and snapped a wrist’er past Hunter Miska’s glove at 8:07.
Dante Fabbro brought the Vees back level early in middle stanza, as he wired a shot over Guillaume Decelles blocker at 2:39. As a Vees power-play expired, Fabbro stepped over the blue-line and picked the corner on the far-side; his third of the post-season.
That goal acted as a springboard for the Vees, as they scored three more to cruise to their third straight win.
Riley Alferd scored his third goal in five games late in the second, giving the Vees their first lead of the night. Inside the final three-minutes of the frame, Alferd found a loose puck in front of the net and stretched out and wrapped it around the pad of Decelles at 17:07.
Pat Newell kept it going in the opening moments of the third, as he made it 3-1 sixty-seven into the frame. Newell was first to a rebound at the side of the net and put just enough english on the puck, to force it over the goal-line and past the stick of a Nanaimo defender; Newell’s third and second in three games.
Dakota Conroy gave the Vees power-play a much needed jolt three-minutes later. On a rare four-on-three man-advantage, Conroy found the corner of the net from the left-circle at 4:23; his fifth capping off the scoring.
Final Score: 4-1 Vees
Shots: 36-87 Vees
Power-Plays: Vees 1-6 Nanaimo 0-3
Three Stars: 1) Miles Gendron 2) Riley Alferd 3) Hunter Miska
Attendance: 2,433
The win was the Vees third in a row and ninth in their last 12 playoff games. Nanaimo now has just one win in their seven road playoff games. Miles Gendron led the offense for the Vees, picking up three helpers and first star honours. The Vees are 2-0 at the SOEC against the Clippers this year, outscoring the boatmen 8-3.
The Vees are off until Sunday, March 29th, when the visit the Chilliwack Chiefs; puck drop is 7pm. Fans can listen to the game on EZ Rock AM 800, or watch a pay-per-view webcast at www.fasthockey.com. There’s also a fan bus going to the game and fans can book their seat for $60 by calling Grape Escape Wine Tours at 1-877-362-3382.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015