Penticton Vees take back end of home-and-home with Vernon Vipers

Vees snap 1-1 tie with pair of goals in second period for a 3-1 win in front of the Vipers' biggest crowd of the season at Kal Tire Place

Second-period goals five minutes apart from Ty Amonte and Taylor Ward propelled the visiting Penticton Vees to a 3-1 win over the Vernon Vipers in B.C. Hockey League action Saturday at Kal Tire Place.

The win gives the Vees a split of the weekend home-and-home series, each team winning on the road.

The game honoured First Responders in the North Okanagan, drawing Vernon’s largest home crowd of the season to date – 2,624.

It was the Vipers who responded with a powerplay goal from defenceman Carter Stephenson at 9:28 of the opening period.

Vernon looked to be taking a 1-0 lead into the dressing room before a great forecheck from the Vees led to Grant Cruikshank firing in his 17th goal at 18:59 to tie the contest.

Amonte scored the eventual winner at 7:27 of the middle frame, taking a nice pass from Nicholas Jones and beating Vernon goalie Ty Taylor.

Ward would add the insurance at 12:26 when defenceman Jonny Tychonic’s point shot hit a Vipers’ stick and went right to Ward who fired it past Taylor.

Each team had five shots in the third period in which there was no scoring.

Penticton outshot Vernon 27-26 with Mat Robson picking up the win.

The Vees improve to 19-4-0 atop the Interior Division, while the Vipers remain in third place at 10-11-2.

 

Vernon Morning Star