Submitted by Fraser Rodgers
Three goals in seven minutes set the Penticton Vees on their way to a 7-1 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters at Cominco Arena on Tuesday.
Easton Brodzinski scored twice and the Vees got singles from Domenic Masellis, Chris Gerrie, the winner, Demico Hannoun, Tyson Jost and Desi Burgart; Brodzinski, Jost and Burgart all scored third period power-play goals. The Vees’ power-play went three-for-six as the team won its 20th straight game.
Vees goalie Zach Driscoll improved his record to 7-0 as he stopped 26 shots, while Bailey MacBurnie, the BCHL’s player of the week from last week was yanked after surrendering three goals on four shots.
The Vees opened the scoring and it was newcomer Masellis who got them on the board 90 seconds in. Masellis pinched down from the point and took a pass from behind the net and buried short-side shot.
Gerrie, who set up Masellis, then turned trigger man. Off the rush, Nicholas Jones threw the puck across the zone to Gerrie, who went upstairs from the right wing at 6:06. It was his seventh of the season. Hannoun chased MacBurnie from the net 38 seconds later after he scored on a breakaway. Hannoun capitalized on a turnover at his own blueline racing back the other way and going over the glove. His sixth goal in five games.
Trail made some noise late in the first when Max Newton scored on his own rebound from the right wing at 19:28.
After a four-goal first period, the two teams held each other off the scoresheet in the second.
The Vees lit the lamp again in the third, exploding for four goals on 15 shots and rode a hot power-play.
Penticton is now 3-0 against the Smoke Eaters this season outscoring them 13-2 at Cominco Arena in two games. They improve their record to 9-1 against their own division. Scott Conway’s three assists extended his point streak to 20 games. He’s tied for the longest active streak in the BCHL.
The Vees (20-1-0-0) are back on the road Nov. 13, when they travel to West Kelowna for a date with the Warriors (12-6-0-2) at Royal LePage Place at 7 p.m. The Vees are 3-0 against the Tribe this year but West Kelowna has won five of their last six.
