Photo: Jack Murray
LANGLEY, B.C. – It was a record-setting night in Langley on Friday. Goaltender Will Ingemann set a new BCHL record for the longest shutout streak, in the Penticton Vees 5-3 win over the Langley Rivermen at George Preston Arena.
Ingemann’s shutout streak of 260 minutes and nine seconds is now officially the longest streak in BCHL history. Ingemann passed former Powell River Kings’ goaltender Jonah Imoo who held the record since 2012.
“There are not many guys that can come into this league and have the type of season Will has had. The midseason struggles he went through has made him a better goaltender. His preparation, his mentality has changed all for the better. The run he went on speaks to his maturity and all the steps he has taken,” commented Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg.
On the offensive side, the Vees got goals from five different players in the win. Max Heise, Ryan MacPherson, Billy Renfrew, Callum Arnott, and Anselmo Rego all scored. Renfrew finished with two points. Simon Meier had a pair of assists Friday.
The Vees led 2-1 after the opening 20 minutes on goals from Heise and MacPherson. Heise put Penticton ahead 1-0 seven minutes into the game, after he pounced on a puck playing error by the Rivermen goaltender.
After Langley’s Ryan Schelling made it 1-1 midway through the first, MacPherson put the Vees back up 2-1 at 15:02. MacPherson found room underneath the blocker of Langley’s Mason Beaupit.
After a scoreless second period, the two teams combined for five goals and 25 shots in the final frame. Renfrew put Penticton ahead 3-1 three and a half minutes into the third. Renfrew capitalized on a turnover by Langley from behind their net. Arnott scored on the power play midway through the third, as his team-leading 25th made it 4-1.
Langley did put a mini rally together in the back half of the final frame, as they got goals from Logan Morrell and Ryder McIntosh four minutes apart to cut the Vees’ lead to 4-3 with three and a half minutes left.
That rally was snuffed out by Penticton when Rego scored with just over two minutes left in regulation that restored the Vees’ two-goal lead. Rego managed to redirect the one-timer from Fisher as he crossed in front of the net.
GAME NOTES
Fisher’s third period assist extends his point streak to eight games. Fisher has 11 points in those eight games. Billy Renfrew has four points (1-3-4) in his last two games. Ingemann’s shutout streak spanned five games and 37 days. The Vees are now eight points up on West Kelowna for top spot in the Interior Division. Penticton also has a game in hand.
GAME STATS
Shots: 37-21, Vees
Vees Scoring: Heise (5), MacPherson (14), Renfrew (14), Arnott (25), Rego (8)
Vees Goaltending: Will Ingemann (W) 60:00 18/21
Power-Plays
Vees: 1/6
Rivermen 0/2
Three Stars:
1) Billy Renfrew
2) Ryan Schelling
3) Simon Meier
NEXT GAME: The Vees’ (33-7-3-2) road trip continues Saturday against the Coquitlam Express (20-21-1-3). Puck drop at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre is 7:00 pm
