Submitted by Fraser Rodgers
Duncan Campbell didn’t need much time to make a good first impression with his new team. The newly signed forward scored twice in the first period, as the Penticton Vees cruised to a 4-1 win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Friday at the Shaw Centre.
Campbell scored four minutes into the game and then again late in the first period on the power-play to put the visitors ahead by a pair. Grant Cruikshank, short-handed, and Owen Sillinger added two more in the second, as the Vees bounced back from a loss to Wenatchee Saturday.
Mat Robson was very good stopping 33 of 34 shots and was named the game’s third star in picking up his 13th win.
Penticton’s power-play continued to produce, as they scored again Friday, pushing the Vees’ streak to four straight games with a power-play goal.
Campbell scored on his second shift off a face-off. David Eccles had his point shot kicked out but that rebound came right to Campbell, and the 20-year-old quickly found the back of the net at 4:36. Salmon Arm got into some late penalty trouble, Campbell added another during a five-on-three advantage. James Miller ripped a one-timer from the top of the circle, which Campbell managed to get a piece of out front of the net; his second coming at 17:24.
Penticton was guilty of taking one too many penalties in the second and it finally caught up to them. Elijiah Barriga, much like Campbell’s first goal, was first to a rebound. Robson stopped the initial shot but the rebound bounced over to Barriga who buried it into an open net at 11:37; his seventh career goal in eight games against Penticton.
Shots: 25-34 Vees
Power-Plays: Vees 1-4 Salmon Arm 1-4
Three Stars: 1) Duncan Campbell 2) Connor Sundquist 3) Mat Robson
Nicholas Jones assist on Campbell’s first goal extended his point streak (2-7-9) to six games. The Vees are now 8-0-0-0 against the Interior Division and six of those eight wins have come on the road. The Vees also bump up their road record to 11-2-0-0 with the victory.
Penticton (16-3-0-0) returns home Saturday to face the Prince George Spruce Kings (8-9-1-1) at the SOEC; game time is 6 p.m. The Spruce Kings are coming off a 5-4 loss in Trail Friday. Fans can pick up their tickets at the Valley First box office (at the SOEC), or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com.
Vees notes: The Trews will be at the Vees game against the Vernon Vipers on Nov.11 for a Remembrance Day pre-game performance. The Trews accepted an invitation by the Vees to perform their Remembrance Day song Highway of Heroes and O Canada. Highway of Heroes, was co-written and co-produced by the Trews and Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar) and was inspired by the 2006 death of captain Nicholas Goddard from The Trews’ hometown of Antigonish, N.S. Canada’s Highway of Heroes, is a section of the MacDonald-Cartier freeway named to honour those who have sacrificed all in service of our country.