For the third consecutive season, the Penticton Valley First Vees have won the Interior Conference Regular Season Title, doing so in the 60th and final game of the regular season by downing the Vernon Vipers 6-3, Saturday night at the Memorial Arena.
The Valley First Vees trailed 1-0 after one, but stormed back with three goals in both the second and third periods.
A couple of key turning points were when Penticton went in front 3-1 by scoring with only five seconds left in the second period, before padding its lead to 4-1 just 32 seconds into period three.
Anthony Perdicaro with a pair, Brett Hextall, Eric Kroshus, Zack Josepher and Curtis McKenzie all scored for the Valley First Vees.
Alex Evin picked up his 31st victory of the season, stopping 18 of 21 shots.
It's worth noting that the team is a perfect 6-0 when wearing its vintage third jerseys, modeled after the 1954 Allan Cup Champion Penticton Vees, who themselves were honoured in a pre-game ceremony and banner unveiling on Saturday night.
The Penticton Valley First Vees needed only a single point to clinch top spot in the Interior Conference, however they got two to finish the regular season at 41-15-2-2, good for 86 points, three better than second place Westside.
The win assures the Valley First Vees home ice advantage throughout the entire 2008 BCHL Playoffs. Penticton receives one of the two Interior Conference first round ?byes,? not seeing post season action until Game One of a Best-of-Seven Interior Semi-Final Series, scheduled to get underway Friday, March 7th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Memorial Arena.
SATURDAY NIGHT vs.
FINAL SCORE:
Goals
