CHILLIWACK —The Penticton Vees got a fight from a bulldog, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs to be precise.
The Vees left Prospera Centre with a 4-3 win after having a 4-0 lead. Their lead began to shrink with one second left in the second period as the Bulldogs scored a buzzer beater following some discussion amongst the officials if it should count. The goal came on a late power-play when Jarod Hilderman was given a penalty for closing his hand on the puck.
That led to a third period push that saw the Bulldogs outshoot the Vees 10-7 and received goals from Scott Clark and Dylan Haugen.
The Vees opened the scoring as Tyson Jost scored the first of his three on a backhand, then Riley Alferd scored after he spun around in the Bulldogs zone while firing a shot. Jost then scored his second beating Billy Christopoulos high glove. Jost’s third goal came when Lewis Zerter-Gossage left the puck for him high in the slot and he wired a slap hot through the five-hole.
Vees coach-GM Fred Harbinson said the performance was a lesson for his team that they can’t let off the gas. Harbinson said taking a bad penalty at the end of the second gave the Bulldogs momentum.
“It was a good play on their part to get one right at the buzzer,” he said. “I thought we made some young mistakes in the third period.”
Among the performances he liked was that from Jost.
“Tyson Jost getting three goals as a 16-year-old is pretty impressive,” said Harbinson. “I thought that three of our lines came today. One was a little off.
“Obviously we’re a good hockey club, but we’re going to be pushed by every team in the league if we don’t have everybody showing up,” continued Harbinson, who said the game was played with pace.
All four Vees goals were scored at even strength as they went 0-for-8 on the power play. As for their penalty-kill, allowed the one goal, while also giving up a short handed marker to Haugen. Hunter Miska made 19 saves for the win.
Other scores from the Showcase had Merritt defeat Cowichan Valley 5-3, the Trail Smoke Eaters cruised past the Coquitlam Express 8-3 with the help of Charlie Zuccarini’s five-goal effort. The Prince George Spruce Kings picked up a 6-4 victory against the Nanaimo Clippers and the Chilliwack Chiefs doubled up Powell River 6-3.
