Photo: Cherie Morgan
PENTICTON, B.C. – The Penticton Vees opened the 2024 BCHL Playoffs with a 3-0 win over the Prince George Spruce Kings, Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC).
The Vees lead the best-of-seven series 1-0, with Game Two set for Saturday night at the SOEC.
Penticton got 20 saves from Will Ingemann, who posted his first career playoff shutout in his first BCHL playoff game. Ingemann was named the first star.
Anselmo Rego, Francesco Dell’Elce, and Zack Stringer supplied the offence. Brock Reinhart chipped in with two assists.
Penticton kicked off the playoffs with a win, after losing three in a row to close out the regular season.
“Our team committed to the game plan. We talked about playing with speed, playing physical this week and we did just that,” began Vees’ Director of Hockey Operations Matt Miller post-game. “A well-executed game from our group, especially on the heels of a tough ending to the regular season. It was good to see a complete team effort.”
Rego opened the scoring 12 minutes into the first period after he cashed in a rebound in front of the Prince George net. Brock Reinhart threw the puck to the net from the wall, and Rego was there to jam in the loose change for his first career playoff goal.
Penticton added to their lead in the second period, as they scored twice in a three-minute span to extend the lead to 3-0 through 40 minutes.
“His name is Francesco Dell’Elce!” 🎯
The Vees extend their lead in Penticton!
🎙️ @Fraser_Vees #BCHLPlayoffs | @PentictonVees pic.twitter.com/WasnW2CWqa
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 6, 2024
Dell’Elce too scored his first career playoff goal that made it 2-0 at 12:58. His wrist shot from the blue line had the back of the net. Then, Stringer scored from the side of the net, as he turned back onto his forehand and roofed the puck over the Spruce Kings’ Charlie Zolin at 15:28. Stringer’s goal came a second after the Vees’ power play had expired.
Ingemann, who had a league-leading six shutouts in the regular season, made his best save of the night early in the second period. He stonewalled Prince George’s Kazumo Sasaki on a breakaway when the Vees were leading 1-0 at the time.
Penticton snuffed out the Spruce Kings’ offence on Friday, as they limited Prince George to single-digit shots in each of the three periods.
GAME NOTES
Defenceman Lucas Sorace returned to the lineup, after missing the final week of the regular season. Forward James Fisher served his one-game suspension Friday and is eligible to return in Game Two on Saturday. If you include the regular season, the Vees have shutout the Spruce Kings in three of the five games at the SOEC this season.
GAME STATS
Shots: 27-20, Vees
Vees Scoring: Rego (1), Dell’Elce (1), Stringer (1)
Vees Goaltending: Will Ingemann (W) 60:00 20/20
Power-Plays
Vees: 0/1
Spruce Kings: 0/3
Attendance: 2,711
Next Game: The Vees host the Spruce Kings in Game Two of their series on Saturday, April 6th, at the SOEC; face-off is 7:00 pm. Playoff tickets are available at the Valley First box office, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
