Even before the Penticton Vees stormed back in dramatic fashion on home ice to defeat the Cranbrook Bucks on Sunday (Feb. 20), the team was already heroic to a number of local youth in the community.
As part of the Vees’ Hat Trick Weekend, kids were encouraged to bring their skates and skate with the players at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC) Sunday afternoon.
But the fun didn’t stop there.
Several local skaters were invited into the Vees’ dressing room for a meet and greet with select players to wrap up the festivities.
Kids got to skate with the Vees, get autographs and were given free hot chocolate, courtesy of the Vees as part of Family Day fun. The ultimate prize on Sunday, however, was a framed stick and hockey card from Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews.
While the kids with skates in hand were having fun, the ones in the stands who bought tickets to see their Vees perform were also treated to a Family Day weekend to remember.
After trailing 3-0 to Cranbrook after the first period, Penticton scored four consecutive goals in the second period to stun the Bucks and ignite the SOEC crowd.
Both teams traded goals in the final frame, wrapping up a wild game that would end in favour of the Vees by a one-goal margin — 5-4, the final.
The Vees won twice in three tries during their trio of weekend games at the SOEC.
After defeating the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday night (Feb. 18), Fred Harbinson’s squad dropped a 3-2 affair to the Prince George Spruce Kings the next day, seeing their 11-game win streak come to an end in the process.
Penticton (33-7-0-2) will take a trip north to the Shuswap to meet the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (30-7-3-1) on Wednesday night (Feb. 23).
READ MORE: Penticton Vees take top spot in league, win in OT against Salmon Arm
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logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
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