Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (22-6-2-2) have one final game before heading home for the Christmas break, and it’s a big one as they welcome the Nanaimo Clippers (16-12-3-2) for Teddy Bear Toss at the South Okanagan Events Centre at 6:00.
Last night the Vees wrapped up their season series with the West Kelowna Warriors with a 3-2 overtime loss at Royal LePage Place. Adam Scheel finished with an astounding 49 saves.
Chase Dubois opened the scoring for the Warriors last night a little over the halfway mark of the first before Owen Sillinger scored a power-play goal to tie things up through 20 minutes.
The Vees had a number of grade A scoring chances in the second, but couldn’t beat Cole Demers. Michael Lombardi scored the lone goal of the middle frame to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead heading into the final period.
Sillinger found the back of the net for the second time to tie the game up 6:29 into the third period. Penticton appeared destined to complete the comeback after killing off a penalty in overtime, but RJ Murphy scored the winner with just 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock in the first overtime to give the Warriors the win.
The Clippers are on their final road trip before the Christmas break; a three-game Interior Division swing that began last night in Trail. Nanaimo scored three goals in the first and third periods en route to the 7-3 win.
The Vees and Clippers met just two weeks ago at the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo, a 2-1 Vees win. As expected heading into the game it was a goaltenders duel between Scheel and Taz Burman, the top two goalies in the league in save percentage.
Sillinger and Grant Cruikshank scored for the Vees that night while Scheel made 22 saves in goal.
It is the annual Teddy Bear Toss game for the Vees tonight, after Penticton’s first goal fans are encouraged to throw stuffed animals and articles of warm clothing on the ice which will be donated to those in need.
Team Statistics
Leading scorers
Penticton Vees
Owen Sillinger – 15 G 17 A 32 GP
Nicky Leivermann – 7 G 20 A 31 GP
Jonny Tychonick – 5 G 18 A 25 GP
Nanaimo Clippers
Jake Harris – 16 G 19 A 30 GP
Jamie Collins – 11 G 15 A 31 GP
Tristan Crozier – 10 G 16 A 28 GP
Special Teams
Penticton Vees
Power play – 21.9% (T-1st in BCHL)
Penalty kill – 89.4% (1st in BCHL)
Nanaimo Clippers
Power play – 21.9% (T-1st in BCHL)
Penalty kill – 80.2% (13th in BCHL)
Season series
December 1, 2017 – Vees 2 @ Clippers 1 Boxscore
