The Penticton Vees penalty-killing unit is now ranked No.1 on the road in the British Columbia Hockey League.
The Vees returned from their Vancouver Island road trip that saw them go 1-1-0-1, but their penalty kill was at its best as they didn’t give up a goal on 12 chances. On the season, the Vees have allowed five goals on 43 chances, an efficiency rate of 88.3 per cent.
In a 4-3 overtime win over the Victoria Grizzlies to open the trip, the penalty kill unit went three-for-three. Against the Clippers in Nanaimo in a 3-2 loss, the Vees again went three-for-three.
In the final game of the trip against the Cowichan Valley Capitals, a 4-2 defeat, the Vees went five-for-five on the penalty kill.
The Vees are now 17-3-0-1 and their road record slips to 9-2-0-1.
In their win over the Vees, Clippers coach Mike Vandekamp expressed to the Nanaimo News Bulletin how big the victory was.
“It’s a pretty big boost, I’d say…” said Vandekamp. “At the 20-game mark of the season, it’s a benchmark game. Now we can kind of say, ‘OK, we know we can beat anyone’ and you probably raise your expectations.”
During the Vees trip, Vees forward Patrick Newell had his six game point streak snapped against the Clippers. He then collected two assists on Sunday and since Oct. 26, Newell has two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in eight games. He is now fifth in Vees scoring with five goals and 17 points in 21 games.
The Vees, who played on the Island with 10 and 11 forwards, dropped from No.1 in the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings to No. 3. The Carleton Place Canadians in the Central Canadian Hockey League are now No.1, while the Portage Terriers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League hold down the No. 2 spot.
The Vees went 4-2-0-1 without 16-year-old standouts Tyson Jost and Dante Fabbro, who were playing in the World U17 Hockey Challenge in Ontario. Jost and Canada White defeated Fabbro and Canada Red 3-2 in the placement game on Nov.7. Jost set up Brett Howden on the power play to win the game. He also finished the tournament with one goal and three points in five games, while Fabbro had two goals and three points in five games.
The Vees return to action in Vernon on Nov. 14. A limited number of seats are available on the Domino’s Pizza Fan Bus. Fans can get their tickets for just $35 at the Valley First Box Office at the South Okanagan EventsCentre.
Vees coach-general manager Fred Harbinson could not be reached for comment following the road trip.
