FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, September 14th 2012
CARDIAC KIDS; VEES DOWN WARRIORS
WEST KELOWNA, BC–The Penticton Vees needed double-overtime for a second consecutive game, beating the West Kelowna Warriors 4-3 Friday. The Vees extend their season opening winning streak to three games and sit atop of the Interior Conference.
For the second straight game the Vees surrendered the opening goal. After a scoreless first, Max French put the Warriors on the scoresheet at 6:03 of the second. French finished off a two-on-one with Matt Anholt for his fifth of the season.
Ryan Gropp leveled the game at one’s just shy of the fifteen minute mark. Gropp, sitting in the crease, paddled the puck over the goal-line at 14:50.Warriors goalie Tyler Briggs missed on a poke-check and Gropp found the puck in a scramble on the goal-line.
However, the equalizer didn’t stand up long, as David Pope put the Warriors ahead once more, converting on the Warriors only the power-play. Pope took a pass and skated into the bottom of the circle, putting a shot over the right-shoulder of Chad Katunar at 17:52; Warriors were ahead 2-1 after forty-minutes.
Wade Murphy knotted the game at two, early on in the third on a power-play. Murphy stick-handled down the left-wing and had the puck roll off his stick but right to Sam Mellor, who set up Murphy for his second of the season at 5:58; the Vees first power-play tally of the season.
The back-and-forth affair continued, as the Warriors went ahead for the third time late in game. Seb Lloyd tapped-in a cross-crease pass from Marcus Basara at 14:50; giving the Tribe their third lead of the game; a lead that looked like it would stand up.
Mike Rebry, who seems to have a flair for the dramatic, brought the Vees back from one-goal down for the third time in the game’s final seconds. With the goalie pulled, Rebry found a loose puck in the crease and poked it through Briggs at 19:42; Nanne’s original shot troubling the Warriors netminder.
Both teams failed to capitalize in the four-on-four overtime session; the Vees outshooting the Warriors 5-1. It would take five periods, for the second straight game, for the Vees to get two points. James De Haas picked a good time to score his first BCHL goal. On a late-breaking two-on-one rush, Rebry found a streaking De Haas at the back-post; a tap-in from the top of the crease at 3:30.
FINAL SCORE:4-3 VEES
Shots: 46-40 VEES
Power-Plays: Vees 1/3 Warriors 1/1
Three Stars: 1) Seb Lloyd 2) Wade Murphy 3) Adam Plant
The Vees conclude their two game road trip in Prince George Saturday; first of two meetings this season, with the return leg September 30th at the SOEC. The Spruce Kings were clipped by the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-3 in overtime Friday.
The Vees home opener is Saturday, September 29th when the host the Powell River Kings; puck drop is 5pm. Tickets are available at the SOEC box office or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
CONTACT:
FRASER RODGERS
Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations
Penticton Vees Hockey Club
FraserRodgers@gmail.com (250) 809-1390
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