Blackfalds, AB – The Penticton Vees are finally headed home and with two points. The Vees picked up a 4-1 win Saturday, over the Blackfalds Bulldogs at Eagle Builders Centre.
Penticton caps off their season opening four-game Alberta road trip with three out of four wins.
Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg
“It was a good bounce back from our group. From the second period onward, we really established our game. We were playing fast, making simple, hard plays and that led to a lot of looks. We challenged the team before the game and the responded in a big way,” commented Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg.
Max Heise had a goal and an assist in the win, as he scored the game-winner midway through the second period. Heise was named the first star after his two-point effort. His goal was the first of the season and he says it was a longtime coming.
Max Heise’s first of the season gives us our lead back midway through the second in Blackfalds!
🎙️ @Fraser_Vees pic.twitter.com/yEr9LIIsHS
— Penticton Vees (@PentictonVees) September 29, 2024
“Feels good to get my first of the season. It was a great play by [Michael] Fisher from the point to get it through and I was lucky to get my stick on it. I had my chances in the first three games so, it was nice to get on the scoresheet and contribute,” said Heise post-game.
Heise’s goal came at 10:18 of the second period, which broke a 1-1 tie. The 18-year-old tipped in Michael Fisher’s point shot past Bulldogs’ goaltender Waylon Esche.
Jackson Potulny, Ryden Evers, and Simon Meier also scored for Penticton. Potulny scored his first BCHL goal in the first period to open the scoring.
Andrew Ness picked up his first win of the season in his first start. The veteran goaltender was sharp, as he turned aside 23 of 24 shots.
Potulny opened the scoring at 13:41 of the opening frame. The rookie got the puck from Luke Posthumus and shoveled a backhand underneath the goalie’s pad.
Ryden Evers picked up his second of the season in the second to give the Vees some breathing room. Evers took a pass out of the corner from Anselmo Rego and put his shot from the slot through Esche’s pads at 13:29.
Simon Meier capped off the scoring for Penticton in the third period after a great setup by Heise. Heise centered for Meier, who charged down the middle, and put his shot inside the post on the blocker side at 13:18 for his first of the campaign.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 37 Bulldogs- 24
Scoring: Jackson Potulny, Max Heise, Ryden Evers, Simon Meier,
Goaltending: Andrew Ness (W): 60:00, 23/24
Vees Power-Play: 0/3
Vees Penalty-Kill: 2/2
Three Stars:
1) Max Heise
2) Alexander Demitriadis
3) Anselmo Rego
Up Next: The Vees (3-1-0-0) host the Okotoks Oilers in their 2024-25 home opener, presented by Bannister Chevrolet on Friday, October 4th, at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Tickets are just $18 for adults and free for youth 18 and under, courtesy of Peters Bros. Construction.
