Max Coatta had a great night for the Penticton Vees, picking up a goal in each period to lead the Penticton Vees to a 5-1 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters. Coatta earned the first star of the game.
Coatta opened the scoring for the Vees with less than five minutes to play. and Cody DePourcq added another to send the Vees to the dressing room with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The second period saw Coatta pocket his second of the night at 8:46 of the second period.
The Vees picked up went ahead 4-0 on a goal by Ben Dalpe at 12:18 of the third period, and Coatta added his third of the night just 15 seconds later. Dalpe earned the third star of the game.
The Smoke Eaters ruined the shutout for Vees netminder Olivier Mantha with a powerplay goal at 14:55 of the third period with Vees Jarod Hilderman in the box for head-butting.
Mantha also had a strong game for the Vees turning aside 29 of 30 shots by the Smoke Eeaters to earn the second star of the game.
The win gives the Vees an early season record of 3-0, and first place in the BCHL with a three-point cushion over Salmon Arm, Veron, and Trail.
The Vees are back in action in Trail Saturday night, puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.
