Captain Logan Johnston collected two goals and an assist as the Penticton Vees hammered the Brooks Bandits 7-2 to open the Doyle Cup regional hockey series Friday night in Alberta.
Johnston opened the scoring on the powerplay, and Minnesota sniper Mario Lucia, who finished with 1+3, added a shorthanded tally to give the B.C. Hockey League champion Vees a 2-0 lead at the break. Joey Benik, Bryce Gervais, Wade Murphy and Troy Stetcher each added singles, with Travis St. Denis supplying four helpers.
Colton Semenok and Chris Muscoby were the only Bandits to beat Chad Katunar, who made 24 stops. Jan Obernesser allowed six goals on 19 shots before being relieved by Michael Fredrick (five saves).
Game 2 went Saturday in Brooks. A Vees win would bring the series back to Penticton for Game 3 on Tuesday. A Bandits victory would keep the series in Brooks for Game 3 Sunday. The series winner advances to the RBC Cup national Junior A championships, starting May 5 in Humboldt, Sask.
Meanwhile, Vernon’s Curtis Lazar scored once and assisted on Stephane Legault’s winner 18 seconds into the second period as the Edmonton Oil Kings pummeled the Moose Jaw Warriors 6-1 in Game 1 of the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference final Friday night at Rexall Place.
In the Western series, the Portland Winterhawks clipped the host Tri-City Americans 5-4 in overtime in Game 1 Friday.
