FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SaturdayJanuary 1st
VEES LOSE 3-1TO VIPERS TO OPEN 2011
VERNON, BC ? ThePenticton Vees are still looking for their first win of 2011 after a 3-1 roadloss to the Vernon Vipers on Saturday night.
The loss leaves the Vees tied for top spot with the Viperswith nineteen games remaining in the regular season, and just a singlefirst-round bye in the Interior Conference up for grabs.
After a scoreless opening frame, the first goal came at 6:28of the second period on a Vees power play, when the Vipers converted atwo-on-one rush with Patrick McGillis sliding the puck over to Darren Nowick,who gave the Vipers a lead they wouldn?t relinquish.
At 13:04 of the second period, the Vipers would go up 2-0when Marcus Basara drove down the right and let a shot go at the Vees net; JoelRumpel would make the save, but Kyle Murphy jammed in the rebound.
The Vees would get their first of the night on a power play1:39 after the Vipers second goal when Brendan O?Donnell zipped a Myles McCauleypass over the glove of Voth, to cut the lead to one goal.
Blake Voth was solid in the Vernon net, and was at his bestlate in the third when he robbed Joey Benik in the slot of a potentialequalizer ? drawing cheers from the 1,778 fans in attendance.
Trailing by a goal, the Vees called a time-out with 1:18 left in the third witha faceoff in the Vernon zone. With an empty net behind them the visitors foughtfor an equalizer, but instead saw Patrick McGillis deposit the Vipers thirdgoal into an empty net.
Joel Rumpel was strong in the loss stopping 26 of 28 shots,but was stuck with the loss ? his first since November 16th. BlakeVoth made 29 saves on 30 shots and was named a star of the game for hisefforts.
The Vees scored one goal on five power play opportunities,while allowing a short-handed goal against. Penticton killed off all fourVernon power plays, including a 56 second two man-advantage in the secondperiod.
The Vees and Vipers both have 55 points to lead theInterior; six points up on third spot, which is shared by the Salmon ArmSilverbacks and the Westside Warriors. The Silverbacks hold two games in handon Vernon and Penticton.
The Vees return to action on Friday January 7thwhen they host the Surrey Eagles in the first half of a home-and-home series.The game begins at 7:00 PM and the pre-game show starts at 6:40 on EZ Rock AM800 in Penticton, online at MyEZRock.com and BCHL.ca, and in the SOEC at 105.5FM.
The next eleven games for the Vees will come against Coastalfoes as the Vees won?t play another Interior team until February 4th.
You can purchase game tickets at the S.O.E.C. box office, atValleyFirstTix.com, or at London Drugs in the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre.
