The Penticton Vees are through to the national Junior A hockey championships for the first time since 1986.
The Vees, known as the Knights in those days, eliminated the Alberta league champion Brooks Bandits with a 6-2 win in Game 5 of the Doyle Cup regional final Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre. It is the fourth straight year that the B.C. Hockey League will send a team to the RBC Cup, which begins Saturday in Humboldt, Sask.
Joey Benik led the Penticton offence with a hat trick and two assists to earn first star. He connected twice with the man advantage. Steven Fogarty (second star), with 2+2, and Bryce Gervais, with a single, completed the Vees’ attack in front of Michael Garteig, who earned third star for his 31-save showing.
Vernon’s Alex Jewell was called up for the game.
Colton Semenok, on the powerplay, and Chris Muscoby handled the Brooks scoring.
Bandits’ keeper Jan Obernesser was chased late in the second period after allowing five goals on 20 shots. Michael Fredrick allowed one goal on 11 shots in relief.
Penticton will be the last team to have its name engraved on the Doyle Cup as the four western Junior A leagues will play in the inaugural Western Canada Cup starting next year.
Meanwhile, Vernon’s Curtis Lazar will play in the Western Hockey League Championship, with Games 1 and 2 slated for Thursday and Friday night respectively in Portland.
Lazar supplied an insurance goal as the Edmonton Oil Kings eliminated the Moose Jaw Warriors with a 4-1 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Friday night at Rexall Place.
The 17-year-old sniper is the top rookie scorer in the WHL playoffs with eight goals and eight assists in 13 games.
The Portland Winterhawks swept the Tri-City Americans in the Western Conference final with a 4-1 win in Game 4 Thursday night.
