FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SundaySeptember 26th
VEES ROOKIESSHINE IN SATURDAY?S WIN IN P.G.
PRINCE GEORGE, BC? The Penticton Vees are looking for a clean sweep of the Cariboo come Sundayevening in Quesnel, after a second win in as many nights. Saturday in PrinceGeorge, the Vees got stellar performances from their young rookie forwards in a6-2 win at the Coliseum against the Spruce Kings.
Minnesota high-school recruits James Polk and Joey Benikcombined for all four even strength goals the Vees scored in the win. ForBenik, who holds the Minnesota State record for most goals in a season, thegoals are his second and third of the season. Polk has broken the ice on hisjunior career as he potted his first two goals in the BCHL, and added an assistin the win, not to mention being named the first star in the game.
Also noticeable in the Vees fifth win of the season(5-3-0-0) was the physical play of Curtis Loik who was a force on the ice withhits, and a great assist on James Polk?s first goal – that gave the Vees theirfirst lead of the game. Loik, who is 17-years-old, played Major Midget hockeywith the Northwest Giants in Vancouver last season, and turned in his finestperformance of the season on Saturday night.
20-year-olds Mark Hall and Kyle Mountain added empty nettersfor the Vees in a game that was tight until the final few minutes. Hall was hisusual physical self in the game – throwing countless hits to lead the team inthe category. Mountain had two assists on top of his goal for his biggest offensiveoutput as a member of the Vees.
Special teams were solid for the Vees for the second nightin a row, as the club went one-for-three on the man advantage and killed offall four penalties taken.
Joel Rumpel started for the Vees, and finished with the win,but the 19-year-old sophomore was pulled early in the game. After allowing agoal on the second shot he faced, Rumpel was spelled by Billy Faust for 6:27 inthe first period. Faust stopped both shots he saw before Rumpel was returned totend the Vees net.
The Vees mustered 31 shots on the night, while the SpuceKings directed 27 at the Vees target.
With the win, the Vees now sit in sole position of thirdspot in the Interior – two points behind Trail, but the Vees hold a game inhand on the Smokies.
Sunday the Vees finish their three game road trip, andfourth game in four nights; when they return to Quesnel to play at 5:00 onSunday. The Vees beat the Mills 3-1 on Friday night in Quesnel to open theirNorthern road swing.
The pre-game show on EZ Rock AM 800 starts twenty minutesprior to puck drop on Sunday at 4:40. You can also tune in on MyEZRock.com, andat BCHL.ca where both the audio stream and Pay-Per-View video are available.
Next home action for the Vees comes next Thursday, the 30thof September when the Merritt Centennials face the Vees for the first time thisseason. Friday, the Cowichan Valley Capitals visit the S.O.E.C. in their lonetrip to Penticton.
Puck drop for home games is 7:00PM at the S.O.E.C., and VeesGame Tickets can be purchased at the box office during business hours, oronline at ValleyFirstTix.com
