Warriors lose home finale

Photo: Wayne Moore

The Penticton Vees were too much for the West Kelowna Warriors Tuesday night.

In what could have been the final regular season home game for the Warriors, the Vees did them no favours, skating away with a 5-1 victory.

Penticton rallied from a 1-0 first period deficit with four unanswered goal in the second.

Assistant coach Shae Naka said it was a tough night.

"I thought we had a really good first period, we had lots of jump, we were able to get that first goal," he said.

"Then we gave up an unfortunate one on their power play on their first shot in the second that dribbles over the line, and we give up one while on the power play.

"I thought that was a stinger for our group. I don;t think we ever recovered and got back into the game after that.",

Quin Foreman opened the scoring 13 minutes into the first when his backhand off a rebound at the side of the net got past Mat Robson. The goal came after the Warriors had two earlier chances to get on the board.

However, they were unable to build on the lead, even with a late first period power play. It cost them.

Jamie Armstrong tied it on a Vees power play, then four minutes later, Grant Cruikshank, off the rush, beat Gabriel Morency from the slot with Penticton shorthanded to break the deadlock.

It was the fifth shorthanded goal the Vees have scored against the Warriors over their last three meetings.

Ty Amonte and Nic Jones on a five-on-three power play upped the lead to 4-1 before the end of the second.

Chris Klack on another Penticton power play rounded out the scoring in the third.

With just two games remaining in the regular season, the Warriors remain deadlocked with Trail for third in the Interior Division. Both teams have 56 points.

Any combination of Warrior wins or Trail regulation losses totalling two will give the Warriors third in the Interior.

West Kelowna finishes on the road in Merritt Friday and Salmon Arm Saturday. The Smoke Eaters face Vernon in a home-and-home series.

Regardless of whether they finish third or fourth, the Warriors will have home ice advantage in the opening round against either Merritt or Salmon Arm. The opening two games will be played at Royal LePage Place Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4.