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Preview: Vees finish exhibition schedule against Brooks

Brooks, AB: The Penticton Vees will look to finish off their exhibition schedule with a 4-0 record this afternoon when they take on the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time.

Last night, Nolan Hildebrand made 30 saves in net to help the Vees to the 4-2 victory over Brooks. The Vees weathered an early storm in which it took them over 10 minutes to record their first shot on goal.

After a scoreless first, the Bandits opened the scoring but Taylor Ward answered with the equalizer less than three minutes later. Not long after, Owen Sillinger sent a cross-crease pass to Ben Allen for tap in to give the Vees their first lead of the night.

That lead didn’t last very long however, as just 49 seconds later the Bandits tied the game. The game went into the third period tied at two, but less than six minutes in the Vees regained the lead.

Ryan O’Connell fed a perfect pass from the right-wing wall to the side of the net where Lukas Sillinger was able to redirect the puck past Mitchell Benson to make it 3-2.

Ryan Sandelin would score his fourth goal of the pre-season by hitting the empty net with 15 seconds left on the clock and the Vees won 4-2.

After today’s game, the Vees will head home and prepare for the 2017-18 regular season opener September 8 in Merritt.