VEES TOO MUCH FOR THE SILVERBACKS

Denver Manderson returned from a 26 game absence with a vengeance, scoring once and adding three assists as the Penticton Valley First Vees topped the Salmon Arm SilverBacks 4-1, Saturday night at the Memorial Arena.

Manderson was in the Penticton line-up for the first time since suffering an upper body injury in a game against Quesnel back on November 14th.

The trio of Manderson, Austin Smith and Eric Kroshus tore it up, accounting for 10 points on the night.  Smith had two goals and an assist, with Kroshus notching three helpers.  Brett Hextall also tallied for the Valley First Vees, who won their fourth straight game to finish the season series against the SilverBacks at 4-1-1.

More importantly, the (37-12-2-1) Penticton Valley First Vees? Interior Conference leading 77 point total is seven better than second place Westside and now nine points ahead of Salmon Arm, who has fallen back into third place.

Alex Evin picked-up his 27th victory of the season, making 23 of 24 saves.  Penticton pretty much dominated the entire contest, outshooting the SilverBacks 44-24 overall, including a lop-sided 18-4 first period margin.

A partisan crowd of 1,657 went home happy as the Valley First Vees take a day off before preparing for next weekend?s home-and-home versus the Centennials, beginning Friday night in Merritt.

SATURDAY NIGHT vs. SALMON ARM

FINAL SCORE: PENTICTON – 4, SALMON ARM – 1

Salmon Arm     0     1     0     =     1        

Penticton          2     2     0     =     4

Goals

Salmon Arm: Randy Hanagan – 1 (25)

Penticton: Austin Smith – 2 (29, 30/GWG), Denver Manderson – 1 (14), Brett Hextall – 1 (20)

Assists

Salmon Arm: Derek Lee – 1, Damon Kipp – 1

Penticton: Denver Manderson – 3, Eric Kroshus – 3, Austin Smith – 1, Michael Hengen – 1

Powerplays

Salmon Arm