Cam Amantea scored with just thirty-seconds left in the third, as the Vees came from behind to earn a 3-3 tie with the West Kelowna Warriors on Sunday night. Sunday was the pre-season opener for both clubs, who meet Monday in Penticton for the back half of the home-and-home.
Amantea jarred a loose puck just past the pad of Warriors goalie Cody Porter and just over the blue-line at 19:23. The Vees crashed the goal after the puck was put on net by Anthony Conti.
The Warriors thought they had the two points seconds earlier, when Carl Hesler scored from the slot with just sixty-eight seconds left in regulation. The Vees turned the puck over behind the net and Hesler was hit with a pass from behind the goal by Matt Anholt.
The Tribe carried a two-goal lead into the third period, after Anholt (power-play) and Nick Gnazdowsky scored less than two minutes apart late in the middle stanza. Liam Finlay got the Vees on the board at 15:30 of the third. Finlay chipped the puck up and over Cody Porter after he bobbled the rebound in front of the Warriors net. Max Coatta squared the game at two’s minutes later after he tapped-in a goal-mouth feed from Warren Foegele. Blanchard dished the puck out front to Foegele, who slid a quick pass across to Coatta.
Hunter Miska started the game for the Vees and stopped all 15 shots he faced through thirty-minutes. Brendan Barry replaced Miska midway through the second period and stopped seven of ten pucks sent his way.
The Vees failed to score on their only power-play of the game; the Warriors went 1-2. The Vees outshot the home side in each of three periods and the shots finished 40-25 in favour of the visitors. The two rivals square-off tomorrow night at the SOEC, as the Vees play open their home exhibition schedule; puck drop is 7pm. Tickets are just $5 and available at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
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