Vees shake last-place Caps

Photo: Cherie Morgan Photography

Despite a scare from the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Saturday, the last-place team in the B.C. Hockey League, the Penticton Vees earned a double overtime win to remain undefeated this month.

Taylor Ward was the hero in extra time to give the Vees a 4-3 win. Penticton now has nine wins and one tie this month.

The Vees opened the scoring in the game's first minute when Massimo Rizzo scored his first of two goals on the night. 

Cowichan scored to tie the game at one later in the first and took a brief lead just over eight minutes into the second. About six minutes later, Chris Klack scored for Penticton to even things at two.  

The Capitals took another lead early in the third, which lasted only 38 seconds before Rizzo scored again. 

After being outshot 18-17 in the first 40 minutes, the Vees pounded the Capitals in the third and led 22-9 in shots. They finished the night with a 41-29 edge in shots.

Ward buried the hatchet with 3:21 to go in double overtime, scoring his second overtime winner for the Vees this month.

Rizzo led the way offensively with three points, while Cassidy Bowed and Jonny Tychonick each had two assists. Ward also had a pair of points in the win. 

Now 31-9-2-3 in 45 games, the Vees remain perched in first in the BCHL standings and will have a chance to finish the month undefeated on Sunday. They visit the Victoria Grizzlies to conclude a three-game weekend on the west coast.

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On Friday night in Powell River, Wyatt Sloboshan scored his first two goals as a Vee to help Penticton to a 4-1 road win against the Kings.

Sloboshan's first goal opened the scoring late in the first period. The next goal didn't come until early in the third period, when Sloboshan buried again to double the Vees lead. The veteran forward now has two goals and nine points in eight games since coming to Penticton earlier this month.

Powell River pulled within a goal about five minutes later, but Jared Nash restored the Vees' cushion with just over a minute left in the game. Owen Sillinger scored a fourth goal for good measure 51 seconds later.

Adam Scheel stood tall with 29 saves on the night, good enough to earn him first-star honours. Sillinger led the way with three points for Penticton.