KROSHUS SCORES THREE TO HELP THE VEES CLINCH AN INTERIOR CONFERENCE BYE

Eric Kroshus tallied his first career BCHL ?hat trick? in helping the Penticton Valley First Vees beat the Eagles 5-3, Sunday afternoon in Surrey.

It was a see-saw affair through 40 minutes, with Surrey scoring twice and Penticton countering each time in the first, leaving the teams tied 2-2 after one.  The Valley First Vees? second goal actually came on the powerplay with just one second left in the period.

Penticton went in front for the first time at 3-2 just over five minutes into the middle stanza.  However, the Eagles managed to even things before the period was out. 

Despite being outshot 14-10 in the third and 39-30 overall, the Valley First Vees scored the only two goals of the final period to earn the victory.

Zac Dalpe and Austin Smith were Penticton?s other marksmen, with Brett Hextall becoming playmaker by contributing three assists.

Alex Evin recorded the win in net, his 30th of the year as the Valley First Vees snapped their two game weekend skid.  Penticton managed three of a possible six points on its coastal road swing, good enough to nail down one of the two Interior Conference 'byes.'  The Valley First Vees need just need one more point to clinch first place in the Interior.  The only way Penticton would fail to finish in top spot in the Conference is by losing both of its remaining games to Vernon and have Westside win the three games it has left.

The (40-14-2-2) Penticton Valley First Vees finish off the regular season with next weekend?s home-and-home against the Vipers, beginning Friday night in Vernon. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON at SURREY

FINAL SCORE: PENTICTON – 5, SURREY – 3

Penticton     2     1     2     =     5

Surrey          2     1     0     =     3

Goals

Penticton: Eric Kroshus – 3 (10, 11, 12), Zac Dalpe – 1 (26), Austin Smith – 1 (32/GWG)

Surrey: Richard Vanderhoek – 1 (3), Ryan Adams – 1 (12), Paulos Shiferaw – 1 (12)

Assists

Penticton: Brett Hextall – 3, Zac Dalpe – 1, Nathan Westover – 1