Courtesy of Fraser Rogers
The Penticton Vees don’t mind showcasing their talents in Chilliwack.
Ryley Risling scored what turned out to be the game-winner late in the second period, in the Vees 3-2 win over the Prince George Spruce Kings Friday at the BCHL Showcase at Prospera Centre.
It was the Vees third straight win and fifth in their first six games, but more impressively, it was their 10th straight win at the BCHL Bauer Showcase event dating back to its inception in September of 2012.
(read more: Vees excited about Bauer BCHL Showcase)
Jacob Kamps scored his first career BCHL goal in the first period and Grant Cruikshank also scored in the second. Mat Robson, who came in relief of Nolan Hildebrand and picked up his fourth win, stopping 15 of 16 shots in the final two periods.
Jamie Huber and Brett Mennear scored for Prince George who split their Showcase weekend after thumping the Merritt Centennials 7-2 Thursday night.
Kamps opened the scoring 14-minutes into the first on a great setup from Mitch Meek. The Vees’ Assistant Captain had the puck on the goal-line at the side of the net, but found an open Kamps just off the crease and he one-timed the puck over Stefan Wornig’s arm at 14:19.
The Spruce Kings tied it late, very late, in the first and on the most peculiar play. During a PG power-play, Jamie Huber drilled a shot from just outside the blue-line in the neutral zone, which hit off the top of the glove of Hildebrand and flew past on net. It initially appeared as though the puck struck the cross-bar but the on-ice officials deemed it had struck the middle post inside the goal and quickly caromed back out. The referees deliberated at centre ice before ruling it a goal.
Robson came out for the second period after that, replacing Hildebrand after the rookie puck-stopper made 11 saves on 12 shots.
Penticton retook the lead early in the second and on a second effort by Cruikshank. The Spruce Kings’ Stefan Wornig stopped the original point-shot from David Eccles but it bounced off his chest and back into the slot. Cruikshank, after being knocked down onto his backside, found the rebound and fired it five-hole at 6:06; his fourth in three games.
The Vees mustered some late magic of their own in the middle frame. Inside the final half minute of the period, Chris Klack fired the puck out front to Risling, who stuck his stick between his legs to redirect the pass from out of the corner. Risling’s clever redirect sliding inside the far-post with just 15-seconds left.
Prince George made things interesting late in the third and when they were short-handed no less. After the Vees turned it over at the PG blue-line, Braiden Epp broke back the other way on two-on-one with Brett Mennear. Epp managed to get the puck over to the Spruce Kings Captain, who wired a wrist-shot up over Robson’s glove at 15:47.
PG managed to pull the goalie for the extra attacker after getting within one, but the Vees managed to hold them without a shot inside the final minute of regulation.
