FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Saturday, January 14TH
VEES CROWN SPRUCE KINGS; THE STREAK LIVES ON
PENTICTON, BC- The Penticton Vees got goals from four different players and Mike Garteig turned aside twenty-two shots, as the Vees blanked the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings 4-0.
The victory pushes the Vees win streak to twenty-three straight games and their home win streak to nine games.
Despite the score-line, the Vees were on the defensive in the early stages of the first period. The Spruce Kings pressed in Penticton’s zone, putting the first six shots on net and forcing the Vees into early penalty trouble.
Prince George was handed three straight power-plays to start the game but surrendered the game’s first goal before their second man-advantage ended.
Mid-way through the period, Wade Murphy tracked down a loose puck and skated in on a partial breakaway, before tucking a back-hand shot past Kirk Thompson at 9:37. For Murphy it was his third goal in just over three and a half periods and the second short-handed goal for the Vees in as many games.
Mario Lucia sent the Vees to the intermission with a two goal lead, scoring his 28th goal on the season at 13:15 of the period. The Vees were rewarded for some good work behind the Spruce Kings net; Travis St. Denis centering a pass for Lucia who rifled a one-timer past Thompson.
The second period was a scoreless, tight checking period between the two teams. The middle frame did feature several good chances at either end; most noticeably, Joey Benik redirecting a tip off the cross-bar.
In the third period, the Vees picked up where they left off in the first, scoring two more goals to close out the scoring.
On their fifth power-play, the Vees increased their lead to three after Bryce Gervais had his point shot deflect off Logan Johnston; for the Vees Captain it was his sixth goal at 7:46.
An insurance marker was added a short time later, just as a Prince George power-play expired.
Bryce Gervais picked up his second point of the period after he converted on his own rebound on a two-on-one rush. Gervais had his attended pass to Joey Benik bounce back to his stick in front of the Spruce Kings net; putting the puck in an open net for his 33rd at 10:32 to cap off the scoring.
SCORE:4-0 Vees
Shots: 25-22 Vees
Power-Plays:Vees 1/5 Spruce Kings 0/6
Attendance:1, 852
Penticton picked up its thirty-fifth win, in this their fortieth game of the season. They are now only three wins shy of tying their total win output from one season ago.
Penticton’s next home game is the 20th of January when they host the Westside Warriors; game time is 7pm and tickets can be purchased at the SOEC box office, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
The pre-game show on EZ Rock AM 800 starts twenty minutes prior to puck drop; you can also tune in on MyEZRock.com, and at BCHL.ca where both the audio stream and Pay-Per-View video are available.
CONTACT: FRASER RODGERS
Director of Broadcasting, Media Relations
Penticton Vees Hockey Club
FraserRodgers@gmail.com(250) 809-1390
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