The Penticton Vees are back in the win column after they cruised to a 5-2 victory over the Merritt Centennials at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday, March 22.
Callum Arnott, Thomas Pichette and Billy Renfrew each recorded two points, leading the first-place Vees to a win on Feed the Valley Night in front of more than 3,000 people at the SOEC. Final totals were not confirmed, but team officials say a record amount of food and cash was donated to the local Salvation Army food bank.
“We played with speed right from the start, which really put them on their heels,” said Matt Miller, the team’s director of hockey operations. “I was impressed with how our group played with proper emotion. It was a real mature approach.”
Penticton (38-8-3-2) used three goals in the opening frame, including Arnott’s team-leading 26th marker of the season. The Vees’ co-captain was playing in his 100th career BCHL game.
Arnott was joined by Pichette, his fellow co-captain, and Renfrew as first-period scorers.
“It starts with our leadership group,” Miller added. “They set the tone and led by example, and it was reflected on the scoresheet.”
Renfrew scored his second goal of the night when he buried an empty-netter with two and a half minutes left in regulation.
Detroit Red Wings prospect Larry Keenan also scored for the Vees, who bounced back after losing on home ice against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs last Saturday.
Goaltender Will Ingemann made 16 saves and recorded his 22nd victory of the season.
After Arnott opened scoring at 1:46 of the first period, Merritt’s Ray Hamlin responded less than two minutes later to pull his team even.
Penticton would enter the third period up 4-1 before Charles-Thomas Larochelle struck on the power play to score the Centennials’ final goal of the night.
Merritt (20-25-5-1) lost all eight games it played against Penticton this season, as both teams gear up for the start of the BCHL Playoffs on April 5.
The Vees have three games left in the regular season, all on home ice, and return to the rink on Saturday, March 23, when they host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (31-16-0-3).
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