Simon Meier scored his team-leading fourth postseason goal and Will Ingemann made 20 saves as the Penticton Vees beat the visiting Cranbrook Bucks 3-1 to open the second round of the BCHL playoffs on April 18.
Penticton leads the best-of-seven series 1-0, with Game 2 set for Saturday (April 19) at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC).
Caton Ryan and Louie Wehmann also scored for the Vees, who remained undefeated in the 2025 BCHL playoffs after sweeping Okotoks in Round 1.
Rasmus Svartström notched his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs for the No. 6-seeded Bucks. Jaden Cholette made 26 saves.
Meier opened the game's scoring at 7:41 of the first period, in front of a reported attendance of 2,380 at the SOEC.
With his family from Switzerland among those in the stands, Meier raced down the wing before his intended centring pass ended up deflecting off a defenceman’s skate and past the Bucks' Cholette.
Ryan doubled Penticton's lead with a power-play marker at 5:17 of the middle frame.
Svartström put the Bucks on the board at 14:53 of the second period, making it 2-1, before Wehmann scored early in the third period to give the Vees a two-goal lead.
Puck drop for Game 2 is at 6 p.m. (Pacific time) at the SOEC.
