Richard Sabourin’s overtime tally at 1:17 for the Merritt Centennials handed the Penticton Vees their first loss at home. Prior to Saturday’s 3-2 defeat, the Vees were 8-0 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Centennials jumped out to a quick start with a 2-0 lead on goals by Evan Stack on the power play and Billy Marshall. After a scoreless second period, Connor Reilly and Grant Nicholson got the Vees on the board with two power play tallies of their own. Nicholson’s came with 30 seconds left on the clock following a scramble after a Joey Benik point-shot. Nicholson, from behind the net, banked the puck off goalie Tyler Steel. It was the second time in as many meetings that both teams needed extra time to settle the score.
On Friday, the Vees defeated the Westside Warriors 4-2. Affiliate player Alex Jewell, named the game’s second star, scored the winner unassisted. Other Vees scorers were Steven Fogarty, AP Zachery Lindsay and Joey Benik.
The Vees are now 12-3-0-2 and will face Trail and Westside on Friday and Saturday respectively. Check Friday’s issue of the Penticton Western News for more Vees coverage.