FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, February 23RD
VEES EXTINGUISH SMOKE EATERS
PENTICTON, BC- It didn’t come easy but the Penticton Vees extended their winning streak to thirty-five games, doubling the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-2 on Thursday night.
For the second time in three games, the Vees were forced to play catch up as the Trail Smoke Eaters opened the scoring on the power-play. Kyle Horsman received a pass from the corner and tucked a back-hand over the glove of Chad Katunar seven and a half minutes into the opening period.
Penticton equalized with their own special teams effort but it wasn’t from the league’s best power-play. The top ranked penalty kill evened the game at one’s when Steven Fogarty broke in short-handed and slipped the puck through James D’Andrea’s legs with only two and a half minutes remaining in the first period.
The Vees did everything they could to take a lead into the first intermission but D’Andrea, time and again, was there to thwart the Vees offense; turning aside eighteen shots in the frame.
Try as they might, either side couldn’t forge ahead in the second period, both goaltenders standing tall and keeping the game on even terms. D’Andrea rebuffing a flurry of shots during a Vees power-play and Katunar’s play highlighted by a breakaway save of Garrett McMullen.
Like the first two periods, Penticton continued to press the Smoke Eaters goal and finally broke through when Connor Reilly scored the eventual game-winner just past the ten minute mark. Reilly skated out from the right corner before tucking the puck on the far side, around the outstretched arm of D’Andrea; the Vees had their first lead at ten forty-seven of the third.
It didn’t take long to find another, as Joey Benik scored forty-two seconds later to extend the Vees lead by two. Benik the beneficiary of a cross-crease pass from Steven Fogarty.
Clayton McEwan made things interesting late, banking a shot of the glove side of Katunar just before the seventeen minute mark of the stanza. McEwan wheeled out from behind the goal-line before finding daylight on the right side post.
Mike Reilly put to rest any concerns of a Smoke Eaters comeback. Sensing a slow Trail change, Reilly rushed into the zone and threaded the needle to Wade Murphy on a back-door pass; The Vees out ahead by two, with just fewer than two and a half minutes left.
FINAL SCORE:4-2 Vees
Shots:43-19 Vees
Power-Play:Vees 0/2 Trail 1/6
Three Stars:1) James D’Andrea 2) Chad Katunar 3) Troy Stecher
Attendance:1, 874
Hardest Working Vee(s):Troy Stecher & Mike Reilly
The Vees are off Friday before making a trip to Merritt on Saturday, February 25th, to face the second place Centennials; puck drop is 7pm.
Penticton’s next home game is Sunday, February 26th when they host the Prince George Spruce Kings at 2pm. After the game make sure to attend the “Skate with the Vees” sponsored by Tim Hortons. 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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