By Fraser Rodgers
The Penticton Vees will have to make room in the rafters of the South Okanagan Events Centre for another banner.
The Vees picked up a 2-1 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters Friday night at Cominco Arena, and clinched their six consecutive Interior Division regular season pennant.
It’s a BCHL record as no other team has won more than four in a row. The Vees actually clinched the division title after the Wenatchee Wild beat the Vernon Vipers 3-1.
Chris Klack and Matt Gosiewski supplied the offense and Nolan Hildebrand kicked out 31 shots and was named the game’s first star. The Vees picked up their fourth win against Trail this year, and in doing so winning the season series. Blain Caton was the only Smoke Eater to beat Hildebrand as Trail dropped their second straight game against Penticton and are now winless in their last four. Linden Marshall, who had a 45-save performance Wednesday, was sharp again Friday, stopping 35.
READ MORE: UPDATED: VIDEO: Vees have thrilling comeback win over Smokies
Klack opened the scoring four and a half minutes into the first period after winning a race to the puck in the Trail end. Duncan Campbell fired the puck down ice from his own end and Klack was first to it in the slot, quickly lifting the puck over Marshall’s shoulder for his 12th of the season. It would be the only goal for the next 44 minutes.
Emotions came to a head late in the second as Ryley Risling dropped the mitts with Trail’s Ryan Warner for a short but spirited bout; Risling earned the takedown.
Trail finally hit the scoresheet midway through the third period spoiling Hildebrand’s shutout bid. On their third power-play of the night, Andre Ghantous cut across the face of goal and then spun the puck back across to Blaine Caton on the opposite side for the tap-in at 8:45.
The teams looked like they might be off to overtime for the second time in 48 hours but Gosiewski had something to say late. With just over five-minutes left in the third period, the Vees forced a turnover deep in the Trail end and Gosiewski capitalized. Jamie Armstrong forced the puck off the defender’s stick near the boards on the left-wing and it jetted across to Gosiewski in the slot. It slid to the middle on a silver platter and “Goose” stepped into a one-timer that he pounded over Marshall’s glove; his fourth coming at 14:40.
Vees Notes: Gosiewski’s game-winner in the third was his first goal since Jan. 22. The Vees improved their road record to 17-9-0-1, and are 20-9-1-1 against the Interior Division. Friday was Hildebrand’s sixth win and first since Nov. 18.
Penticton (36-12-1-2) hosts the BCHL’s top team, the Wenatchee Wild (38-8-0-40) back at the SOEC Saturday; face-off is 6 pm.
