The Penticton Vees kicked off their post-holiday schedule on Wednesday night (Dec. 29) but were unable to reverse their fortunes against the West Kelowna Warriors, losing 4-3 on the road at Royal LePage Place.
Wednesday marked the second consecutive game between the Vees (20-4-0-1) and Warriors (17-9-0-0) after the team’s met just 11 days prior in West Kelowna.
The Warriors got the better of the Vees on Dec. 18 and continued their winning ways in Wednesday’s rematch against Fred Harbinson’s squad, courtesy of Chase Defoe’s game-winning goal midway through the third period.
Penticton started strong on Wednesday as defenseman Owen Simpson scored his first goal as a member of the Vees only 45 seconds into the showdown.
But it wasn’t until halfway through the middle frame when the Vees tallied another marker. By then, the Warriors had already beaten Penticton goaltender Carter Serhyenko twice.
With the game tied 2-2 in the final frame, West Kelowna pulled ahead with two consecutive goals from Elan Bar-Lev-Wise and Defoe, respectively, eventually holding on for a close 4-3 victory.
Penticton’s loss marks the first time this season that the team has dropped two games in a row.
Since winning 10 in a row from Nov. 7-Dec. 10, the Vees have lost three out of their last five.
Serhyenko took the loss in his first game with the Vees after inking a deal with the team this week that made him the fourth goaltender on the roster.
READ MORE: Penticton Vees add 4th goalie to roster, ink Carter Serhyenko
The Vees and Warriors will meet once more before 2022 reigns in, this time at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday night.
For tickets to Friday’s New Year’s Eve showdown, the Vees ask that you visit ValleyFirstTix.com or the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC.
@lgllockhart
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
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