The Penticton Vees wanted to make a statement against the top team in the BCHL overall standings, and they certainly did that Saturday, knocking off the Surrey Eagles 4-1 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
In front of an energetic crowd of over 3,000 fans, the Vees snapped the Eagles seven-game win streak and handed Surrey their first regulation loss since Nov. 25.
Saturday was a showdown of the two division leaders in the BCHL and the Vees came out on top and improved their record to 9-2 when coming off a loss. Director of Hockey Operations Matt Miller praised his team’s focus at the task at hand.
“Much better effort right from the start of the game. Everyone in our lineup tonight contributed to this win. We were ready to play right from puck drop,” said Miller.
Penticton never trailed in Saturday’s win, as Simon Meier opened the scoring in the first period. Cade Littler broke a 1-1 tie midway through the second with his power play goal. Conyr Hellyer added an insurance marker early in the third, and Callum Arnott iced it with an empty-net goal inside the final minute.
Defensively, the Vees kept one of the league’s best offences at bay and it started in net. Goaltender Andrew Ness stopped 31 shots and earned his seventh-straight win. Since No. 10th, Ness is 7-1-1-0 with a 1.44 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.
“It just rolls on for Andrew. Cool, calm, and collected back there,” said Miller. “Surrey moves the puck very well, they can really snap it around, but Andrew didn’t give them any net to shoot at. He moved so well tonight. Our defencemen did an excellent job of boxing them out.”
After Friday’s disappointing loss to Chilliwack on home ice, the emphasis was on making life much more difficult for the opposition goaltender and the Vees to that to heart on Saturday.
“We talked ahead of tonight’s game about getting secondary chances, getting to rebounds, especially against a good team like Surrey with a good goaltender. Our guys were committed to getting traffic to the net and two of our goals were a direct result of that.”
Meier’s goal that opened the scoring six and half minutes into the game, came on a rebound in front of the Eagles’ net. Connor MacPherson was stopped, but Meier was there to cash in at 6:23.
Surrey’s Aaron Schwartz tied the game on the Eagles’ first of six power plays in the game, as he made it 1-1 at 8:11.
Penticton retook the lead midway through the second on a five-on-three power play. Cade Littler took a drop pass and wired a wrist shot past the glove of Eagles’ goaltender Ajeet Gundarah. Littler’s sixth put the Vees ahead 2-1 at 11:17.
Hellyer added an insurance marker early in the third period, as he scored in just his second game back from injury to make it 3-1. Max Heise set up the goal with a great rush down the left wing and it was Hellyer cashing in on the rebound just 60 seconds into the final frame.
Arnott’s empty-net goal came with just 33 lefts on the clock. Thomas Pichette set up Arnott with a determined effort, as he drew a penalty before unselfishly dishing the puck over to Arnott for the tap in.
Attendance: 3,113
NEXT GAME: The Vees (25-7-2-2) are back in action Friday, Feb. , as they visit the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (24-10-0-2) at the Shaw Centre.
READ MORE: Chilliwack goaltender stands on head to defend win against Vees