HEADER

Vees Blank Trenton, Book Spot in RBC Cup Semi-Final

(Photo: Matthew Murnaghan/Hockey Canada Images)

The semi-final field is set at the RBC Cup after the Penticton Vees (2-0-1) 4-0 win over the Trent Golden Hawks (0-3-1) Wednesday afternoon.

The win books the Vees a spot in Saturday’s playoff round, along with Brooks and Cobourg. Terrebonne also advances to the weekend as Trenton is the first team eliminated from RBC Cup.

Ty Amonte, Nicholas Jones, Grant Cruikshank and Massimo Rizzo scored in the win and Mat Robson posted his first shutout of the tournament, making 21-saves. The win pushes the Vees into second place behind the Brooks Bandits and ahead of Cobourg by virtue of the tournament tie-breaker.

Amonte got the Vees on the scoresheet early, scoring less than five-minutes into the game and after a great set up by Same Rossini. The Vees’ defenseman rushed the puck down the right-wing, before putting a pass right onto the tape of Amonte’s stick from the circle. Amonte quickly put a backhander past the goalie’s blocker at 4:30 for his first goal since April 3rd against Vernon.

Jones added to the Vees’ lead in the back half of the second period and after some steady pressure in the Trenton end. The Vees’ Captain darted down the middle and snapped a low shot just underneath the goalie Chris Janzen’s glove at 14:03; his first of three points in the game.

The Vees picked up their first power-play goal of the tournament late in the second to go up 3-0. Rizzo finished off a backdoor pass from Taylor Ward, banging in the puck from one knee with just 20-seconds left in the frame. Jones also picked up an assist on that goal.

Robson helped preserve his shutout bid early in the third period, including making two great saves, going post-to-post to rob Trenton’s Anthony Sorrentino and Michael Silveri; he made nine of his 21 stops in the final frame.

Cruikshank capped off the scoring midway through the third period, jamming in a rebound at the side of the goal for his first at 11:20. During a four-on-four sequence, Jones carried the puck in before sliding it over to Cruikshank who eventually muscled it into the net past the goalie’s pad and inside the post.

Final Score: 4-0 Vees

Shots: 32-21 Vees

Power-Plays: Vees 1-9 Trenton 0-6

Player of the Game: Vees- Nicholas Jones Trenton- Josh Allan.

Game Notes: The Vees have now allowed just four goals through three games and only one at even strength. Trenton, after having a 2-0 first period lead against Terrebonne Sunday, was outscored 15-0 over their final seven periods of the tournament; they suffered back-to-back shutout losses to Brooks and Penticton.

The Vees wrap up their round-robin tomorrow, Thursday, May 18th, against the Terrebonne Cobras (1-2-0) (3:30 pm ET / 12:30 pm PT). The game can be heard on EZ Rock AM 800, or fans can watch the free webcast on www.hockeyTV.com