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Vees win streak hits a dozen with 5-2 triumph over Warriors

Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (22-5-1-2) have now won 12 games in a row after Friday nights 5-2 win over the West Kelowna Warriors (17-14-1-0) at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

A fast-paced opening 20 minutes had the two teams tied at one after a late goal by Jared Marino. Massimo Rizzo had given the Vees the lead 7:22 into the game after deflecting Joe Leahy’s shot inside the left circle.

Marino’s goal was an individual effort as he drove along the left-wing goal line before shovelling a backhand chance on net. Adam Scheel made the save, but couldn’t track the rebound before Marino was able to knock it in with just 43 seconds left in the period.

It didn’t take the Vees long into the second to regain their lead, however. Rizzo was planted on the right-wing goal line and spotted Nicky Leivermann pinching in from the left point. Rizzo fired a bullet across the ice, and while Leivermann’s wrist shot was stopped by Nik Amundrud, the rebound bounced off Taylor Ward’s leg and into the net just 1:26 into the period.

The Vees thought they had extended their lead after Owen Sillinger jumped on a loose puck in front of the net, but it was waved off for goalie interference after originally being called a good goal.

Penticton would add to their lead before the second came to an end as Cassidy Bowes found a loose puck at the right point. After spinning away from the Warriors defender, Bowes had a lane down the slot before wiring a wrist shot over Amundrud’s blocker with 6:50 left in the second.

Bowes was at it again in the third, this time finding a puck in the right-wing corner. He had a lane to drive to the net along the goal line and was able to slide the puck around Amundrud for his second of the game with a little under eight minutes to go.

West Kelowna made things interesting as Chase Dubois scored a power-play goal, beating Scheel on the glove side with a shot from the right circle 4:23 to play.

Jackson Keane iced the game with the empty netter after intercepting a clearing attempt by the Warriors as the Vees won their 12th game in a row with the 5-2 win.

Penticton is right back in action Saturday night as they travel up to Vernon with a huge matchup against the Vipers. After Friday’s games, the two teams sit in first and second place not only in the Interior Division, but in the entire BCHL.

It’s the fifth meeting of the year between the two; the Vees have won two and played to ties in the other two.