Photo: Cherie Morgan
PENTICTON, B.C. – The Penticton Vees wrapped up their preseason schedule with a convincing 6-0 win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Saturday afternoon at the SOEC.
15-year-old Eli McKamey, granted exceptional status by the BCHL in May, dazzled the crowd with his hat-trick performance. He was named the first star. McKamey looks more than ready for his first rookie season.
Jackson Potulny, Simon Meier, and Ben Merrill also scored in Saturday’s win. Goaltender Will Ingemann recorded a 21-save shutout.
Saturday’s game was the first meeting between the two teams since the Vees’ epic seven-game series win over the Silverbacks in last season’s Interior Conference Final.
Potulny scored the lone goal in the first period as he picked up his first of the preseason at 15:19, to put the Vees up 1-0. Potulny snuck his shot between the goal and the post from the bottom of the circle.
McKamey picked up his first on the afternoon just over a minute into the second period. Julien Wasmer set him up in the slot and McKamey wired his shot upstairs to make it 2-0 at 1:05.
Meier added to the Vees’ lead late in the middle frame on a power play. The puck went off his skate and in from the side of the net at 16:44, which made it 3-0.
McKamey then scored back-to-back goals in the third period that put the game out of reach. His second of the afternoon came nine minutes into the final frame. After an extended battle for the puck at the top of the crease, that included a pile of bodies, McKamey found the loose puck and fired it passed the wall of bodies and upstairs. His hat-trick goal, that put the Vees up 5-0, was the byproduct of a great setup by Conyr Hellyer. McKamey took the pass from the Vees’ captain and broke in alone, scoring glove side on a breakaway at 12:30.
Merrill put the finishing touches on the afternoon with the Vees’ sixth goal in the final half minute of regulation.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 38 Silverbacks- 21
Scoring: Eli McKamey (3), Jackson Potulny, Simon Meier, Ben Merrill
Goaltending: Will Ingemann (W): 60:00, 21/21
Vees Power-Play: 2/4
Vees Penalty-Kill: 1/1
Three Stars:
1) Eli McKamey
2) Simon Meier
3) Will Ingemann
Up Next: The Vees now open the 2024-25 BCHL regular season next Friday, September 20, on the road against the Spruce Grove Saints; puck drop from Grant Fuhr Arena is 6:00 pm PDT. Fans can follow the game on FloHockey TV and on Bounce 800 AM.
