Tychonick leads Vees to win

Photo: MyLight Photography

Soon-to-be NHL draft pick Jonny Tychonick had his third four-point game of the year on Thursday as the Penticton Vees downed the Prince George Spruce Kings 4-1 in the northern B.C. city.

Tychonick led the way with a goal and three assists and was the game's first star, as one of only five defensemen the Vees dressed on Thursday.

Forward Cassidy Bowes returned after an eight-game absence due to an upper body injury and had one of the Vees goals on the night.

Chris Klack had the game-winning goal, and now has five points in four games since returning from an injury that kept him out of the Vees lineup for 20 games.

The Spruce Kings opened the scoring on Thursday night with a shorthanded goal just over two minutes into the second period.

That lead lasted only 67 seconds, before Jordan Henderson scored to tie the game at one. Klack's go-ahead goal, which came with 13 seconds left in the second period, gave the Vees a lead they didn't relinquish.

Penticton had a convincing 36-25 edge in shots on the night, and went 1-4 on the powerplay and 2-2 on the penalty kill.

With the win the Vees remains undefeated in 2018, with five wins and a tie in six games. They now sit four points behind the Vernon Vipers for the B.C. Hockey League's top spot, with three fewer games played.

After a short trek up to the Cariboo, the Vees now quickly turn their attention to a pair of home games this weekend. The team travelled through the night and arrived back in Penticton at 7 a.m. on Friday morning.

Penticton hosts the Merritt Centennials on Friday evening before the Trail Smoke Eaters pay a visit on Saturday.