Clippers double up Vees

Photo: HockeyTV

Taylor Ward scored early for the Penticton Vees on Saturday on the team's teddy bear toss night, in what was a 4-2 loss to the Nanaimo Clippers.

The Penticton Vees closed out their pre-Christmas schedule with a tight loss at home to the Nanaimo Clippers — allowing three powerplay goals and an empty-netter in a 4-2 loss.

The game started out on the right foot for the Vees, on what was the team's teddy bear toss night in front of 3,105 fans at the SOEC.

Taylor Ward scored the goal that sent the bears raining onto the ice less than five minutes into the hockey game. 

The home team would hold that lead until early in the second period, when Brady Lynn scored to knot the game at one. A goal later in the period from Max Crozier gave Nanaimo a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Lynn scored his second of the game for the Clippers midway through the third. 

The Vees made it interesting when Dakota Boutin tallied in the final five minutes of regulation, but an empty-net goal by Parker Colley two minutes later put the game out of reach.

Powerplays were efficient by both teams on Saturday night. The Clippers were a stifling 3-4 on the man advantage, while the Vees finished 2-5.

Penticton didn't lose for a lack of chances, as the team finished the night with a 38-25 edge in shots.

The short-manned Vees also dressed only 16 skaters.

Cassidy Bowes was injured Friday night when the Vees were in West Kelowna, and he joins Chris Klack and Grant Cruikshank on the shelf.

Ryan O'Connell and Jonny Tychonick were flying home from the Maritimes, after winning gold at the World Junior A Challenge.

O'Connell will join the team's injured list upon returning, after breaking his arm on Wednesday at the tournament.

Saturday's loss was the third in a row for Vees.

After having a 12-game win streak snapped in Vernon seven nights ago, Penticton lost a heartbreaker in the final second of overtime on Friday to West Kelowna, prior to Saturday's loss.

Despite limping into the holiday break, the Vees will be in third in the B.C Hockey League standings when league play resumes on Dec. 29, with a 22-7-2-2 record through 33 games.

The two teams ahead of them are both in their division. The Vernon Vipers are seven points ahead and have played four more games, while the Wenatchee Wild are one point ahead with two extra games played.

The Vees will return to action when they visit the Wild for two straight games on Dec. 29 and 30.