Dixon Bowen’s first BCHL goal ended up being a winner.
Bowen gave the Penticton Vees their fifth straight win and eighth consecutive in the Bauer BCHL Showcase at Prospera Centre in a 2-1 overtime decision over the Chilliwack Chiefs. The extra room in OT was beneficial for Bowen who skated out of the corner in the Chiefs zone and roofing a shot on Aiden Pelino 27 seconds in.
After a scoreless first period in which the Chiefs outshot the Vees 13-5, and a Ben Brar goal was disallowed, Vees assistant captain Dante Fabbro put his team up 1-0 on the power-play at 1:23. Fabbro scored with a blistering shot from the blue line for his first of the season. The Chiefs got back on even terms as Vimal Sukumaran and Kale Kane set up Brendan Riley, who beat Anthony Brodeur five-hole at 9:12 of the second period. Brodeur finished with 29 saves to remain undefeated. Pelino stopped 36 of 38 and was named first start. The two goalie took over following the equalizer and combined to stop 47 shots. Brodeur made a handful of crucial saves in the final two periods but none better than one on a point-blank one-timer by Mitch Skapski that he kicked out. Pelino’s best stop came off of Scott Conway midway through the third. Conway forced a turnover at his blueline and headed off on a breakaway. His backhand deke was denied by Pelino’s glove.
The Vees swept their schedule at the Showcase for the fourth straight year and are now 8-0. Brodeur is 4-0 as a starter with a 1.16 goals-against average and .958 save-percentage.
Penticton (5-1-0-0) now return home to face the Merritt Centennials (3-5-0-0) at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Oct.2, puck drop is 7 p.m.
In other BCHL action Friday, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks dumped the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 3-0, the Powell River Kings doubled up the Surrey Eagles 4-2 and the Nanaimo Clippers whipped the Merritt Centennials 6-0.
