FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, November 16, 2012
VEES CLIMB OUT TO EARLY LEAD; HOLD-OFF ‘BACKS
PENTICTON, BC-The Penticton Vees scored three goals in the first, two on the power-play and held off a late Salmon Arm comeback, winning 3-2 Friday at the SOEC. The victory is the Vees second in a row and third in as many games against the Silverbacks.
The Vees staked themselves out to a three-goal lead in the first period, getting goals from Troy Stecher, Wade Murphy and Brad McClure; Stecher and Murphy on the power-play. The Vees looked well on their way to their 15th victory but the Silverbacks put up a fight in the final forty minutes.
Troy Stecher opened the scoring on the Vees first power-play, as he tucked a wrap-around behind an outstretched Adam Clark; Stecher’s third coming at 3:06. The ice was then showered with stuffed animals, as Friday was the Vees annual Teddy Bear Toss.
The Vees added to their lead three minutes later on another power-play. With former Vees Steven Iacobellis in the penalty-box, Wade Murphy finished off a back-door pass from Stecher at 6:06. Stecher skated down to the right goal-line before feathering a pass across to Murphy for his 11th.
The Vees cushioned their lead later in the first on a two-on-rush. Brad McClure took a bank-pass from Sam Mellor, and skated in on the right side, snapping a wrist-shot over the glove of Clark at 12:28. Mellor started the play with a nifty pass from the circle inside the Vees zone, throwing a saucer pass to centre where it was picked up by McClure.
Despite being down by three goals, the Silverbacks hung around in the second, buoyed by strong goaltending from Clark, and found their first of the game half-way through the frame. Off a face-off in the Vees end, a point-shot bounced to Bryden Marsh at the right-circle and he put a wrist-shot over the glove of Chad Katunar at 10:34.
The Vees outshot the Silverbacks 11-3 in the second period but it was Salmon Arm scoring the only goal of the middle stanza.
It was the same story in the third, as Salmon Arm continued to play hard and bothered the Vees with their persistent fore-check.
The pesky Silverbacks made it a one-goal game late in the frame when two former Vees hooked-up. Alex Jewell worked the puck free from out of the corner and found Evan Anderson at the bottom of the left-circle. Anderson let go a quick shot that zipped past the glove of Katunar at 14:02; Anderson’s first career BCHL goal.
However, that’s as close as the Silverbacks would get, as the Vees held-off a late push by Salmon Arm for their second straight win; second straight one-goal win.
FINAL SCORE 3-2 VEES
Shots: 32-23 Vees
Power-Plays: Vees 2/6 Silverbacks 0/5
Three Stars: 1) Troy Stecher 2) Sam Mellor 3) Bryden Marsh
Attendance: 1,726
Vees Notes: Wade Murphy’s first period power-play goal extended his BCHL-best point-streak to 17 games. Brad McClure’s goal gives him goals in three straight games.
The win moves the Vees record to 15-5-0-2, 32 points on the season and six points clear of second place Merritt. The Vees also improve to 11-1-0 against the Interior Division.
Up Next: The Vees hop back on the bus tomorrow, Saturday, November 17th when the make a stop in Trail to face the Smoke Eaters; game time is 7:30pm. The Vees return home on Wednesday, November 21st when the host Trail; face-off at 7pm. Tickets are available at the Valley First box office at the SOEC or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
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