BULLDOGS PUT THE BITE ON THE VEES

For the second time this season, the Penticton Valley First Vees lost to a team with the BCHL?s lowest point total, handed a 6-2 setback at the hands of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Friday night at the Weyerhaeuser Arena in Port Alberni.

Despite outshooting the Bulldogs 11-4 in the opening period, the Valley First Vees found themselves trailing 1-0. 

However, it was the middle period when the roof caved in on Penticton as Alberni Valley scored four unanswered goals to grab a commanding 5-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Eric Kroshus and Brett Hextall each tallied once and added an assist on the powerplay during a penalty-filled final period, but it was too little and far too late for the Valley First Vees, who suffered their most lopsided loss of the year.

Penticton netminder Alex Evin was relieved by Bryan Mountain 11:08 into period two, following the Bulldogs? fourth goal of the night, suffering his first defeat since December 9th.

The (39-14-2-1) Valley First Vees still have a more than respectable record of 16-4-0 in their last 20 games.  Oddly enough, all four losses have come at the expense of the league?s bottom three clubs, Alberni Valley twice, as well as Quesnel and Merritt.  

As the regular season winds down, the battle for first in the Interior Conference is beginning to tighten.  Penticton?s lead over second place Westside has been reduced to just three points, with the Valley First Vees still holding a game in hand.

The Penticton Valley First Vees? three game weekend road trip continues on Saturday night in Burnaby, prior to Sunday afternoon?s visit of Surrey.

FRIDAY NIGHT at ALBERNI VALLEY

FINAL SCORE: ALBERNI VALLEY – 6, PENTICTON – 2

Penticton              0     0     2     =     2

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