Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (11-5-1-2) scored their first win in two weeks with a 4-1 triumph over the Vernon Vipers Saturday, now they turn their attention to the Surrey Eagles (12-9-2-1) who have won seven of their last 10 games.
After 70 minutes of hockey ended in a 2-2 draw against Vernon last Friday, the Vees opened up a 3-0 lead in the second period on Saturday. Taylor Ward opened the scoring with four minutes left in the first when Nicky Leivermann’s point shot hit him standing in front of the goal.
Jonny Tychonick and Jordan Henderson scored less than two minutes apart in the final few minutes of the second period. Tychonick’s goal came on the power play, the Vees only man advantage of the game, while Henderson let a wrist shot go off a face-off that beat a screened Anthony Yamnitski.
Before the period was up Shane Kelly got the Vipers on the board when his shot from the right wing corner banked off Adam Scheel’s skate and into the net. Ryan O’Connell found the back of the empty net for his first of the season to cap off the scoring in the 4-1 win. Scheel finished with 29 saves recording his first win since October 14.
The Eagles come into Wednesday’s game riding a three-game winning streak, as they swept their last weekend. Friday they were at home and picked up a 4-2 win over the Express, before the two teams met again in Coquitlam Saturday night in a 5-3 Eagles victory.
Sunday afternoon the Eagles hosted the Chilliwack Chiefs at the South Surrey Arena. After Chilliwack tied the game early in the third, the Eagles scored twice in 3:21 before the Chiefs made it a one-goal game with under two minutes to play. Nic Tallarico finished with 30 saves in the 4-3 Eagles win.
Ty Westgard, currently tied for second in BCHL scoring with 33 points, was riding a 16-game point streak into Sunday’s game but was held off the scoresheet. He had five goals and 24 assists over that frame.
Penticton matched up against the Eagles twice last season, winning 3-0 at home before dropping a 4-3 overtime decision in Surrey.
Wednesday’s game is the third Wicked Wednesday of the season for the Vees, $5 general admission while fans 18 and under still get in for free. Contact Laura Carleton to book tickets at 250-493-8337 ext. 4.
Team Statistics
Leading Scorers
Penticton Vees
Owen Sillinger – 6 G 10 A 19 GP
Nicky Leivermann – 2 G 14 A 18 GP
Dakota Boutin – 6 G 5 A 19 GP
Surrey Eagles
Ty Westgard – 5 G 28 A 24 GP
John Wesley – 20 G 10 A 24 GP
Desi Burgart – 9 G 14 A 23 GP
Special Teams
Penticton Vees
Power play – 18.0% (9th in BCHL)
Penalty kill – 88.5% (1st in BCHL)
Surrey Eagles
Power play – 15.1% (15th in BCHL)
Penalty kill – 82.8% (8th in BCHL)
Season series
November 15, 2017 – Vees vs Eagles
February 18, 2018 – Vees @ Eagles
