A 5-1 victory against the Chilliwack Chiefs extended the Penticton Vees winning streak to 29 games.
The feat helped them tie a 22-year record set by the New Westminster Royals in 1989-90. A crowd of 3,885 rose to its feet at the South Okanagan Events Centre as the clock ticked down and Vees goalie Michael Garteig raised his arms in the air.
The Vees were challenged by the Chiefs, who are fighting for a playoff spot. Not only did the Chiefs test the No. 1 team in Canada, but they forced Garteig to make a huge toe save early in the first period. The Chiefs did get to Garteig shortly after when David Bondra fed Derek Huisman in the slot after winning a battle for the puck in the corner. The lead didn’t last long as three minutes later, Vees forward Wade Murphy capitalized on a stickhandling mistake by Chiefs goalie Bryton Udy that resulted into an open net goal.
While offence lacked in the first two periods, physicality didn’t. Connor Reilly’s 33rd goal of the season proved to be the winner. Steven Fogarty’s wrist shot that found a hole between Udy’s arm and the post gave the Vees comfortable distance in the game.
“Fogarty’s goal blew the hinges off the door,” said Vees captain Logan Johnston. “They held us tight.”
Johnston credited the Chiefs for their strong play and the solid goaltending they received from Udy, who turned asided 39 of 46 shots. Following Fogarty’s goal, Mike Reilly finished off a beauty play that started with Travis St. Denis carrying the puck into the zone, pausing, then finding Connor Reilly. Reilly then spotted his younger brother who hovered near the crease and re-directed the puck past Udy. St. Denis then fired a shot top shelf on Udy on the power play.
Johnston, who issued a challenge to his hometown to have 4,000 fans attend, fell short by 115, but he was still happy with the support.
“It was a great crowd,” said Johnston, adding that the players were pretty nervous as a group. We were a bit shell shocked by the crowd.”
Asked what it felt like to tie the Royals longstanding record, Johnston said he didn’t know “right now.”
He said later on in his career he might have a better feel for it. The only thing that came to mind for him is that it felt great.
When it came to their own play, which at various times during the season the Vees have had close battles before blowing it open, Johnston preferred to use how a boxer approaches a fight.
“It’s body blow, body blow, then head blow,” said Johnston, adding that the Vees just continued to grind things out.
On Tuesday, the Vees will have a chance to set a BCHL record against the Chiefs in Chilliwack. Near the end of the game it was announced that one booster bus had sold out. A second one is being set-up but will only go if it sells out. For info on the booster bus, fans are asked to contact director of ticket sales Will Russell.
For more coverage on the Vees, check the Wednesday issue of the Western News.