Vees trounce Warriors

Photo: Julie Pringle - Snap Photography

The Penticton Vees got off to a quick start against the West Kelowna Warriors Friday night and never slowed down, putting on a dominating performance in front of their home crowd.

The Vees slotted two goals within two minutes of each other from James Miller and Luke Loheit midway through the first, and they kept it coming in the second.

Before the halfway point of the game, the Vees were up 6-0, thanks to goals by Mason Snell, Massimo Rizzo, Jack Lagerstrom and Lukas Sillinger.

Warriors' goaltender Connor Hopkins was pulled after four shots got past him, but replacement Brock Baier could do little to turn things around.

While the Warriors' Mike Hardman broke Vees goaltender Derek Krall's clean sheet with just over a minute left in the second, and Chase Dubois opened the third with a second for the Warriors, it was too little too late.

The game ended 7-2, with the Vees more than doubling the Warriors' shots on goal, 53-23.

The Warriors will look to bounce back Saturday night at home, when they play the second game of their doubleheader against the Vees.

Saturday's game, which includes the Teddy Bear Toss, begins at 7 p.m. at Royal Lepage Place in West Kelowna.