The biggest goal of Patrick Sexton’s career gave the Penticton Vees the BCHL’s Interior Division championship Sunday night before 3,200 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Sexton, a bruising defenceman who scored once during the regular season, watched as his shot from the point bounced off a leg, flipped into the air and beat Vipers goalie Danny Todosychuk glove side at 17:07 for a 1-0 lead. The Vees withstood pressure by the Vipers for the last 2:30 of the third period. Matthew Serratore put the dagger in the Vipers with an empty net goal at 19:56 in Game 7.
“Me and (Dante) Fabbro talked before the draw, we just wanted to get the puck to the net,” said Vees co-captain Sexton, named the game’s first star. “I think it bounced off his skate. At this point I don’t really care, they all count. It’s a little sweet revenge for last year.”
Former Vee Liam Finlay, who was dealt for Dakota Conroy earlier this season, said it was intense game. He was hugged by nearly every Vee in the handshake.
“I felt we played a heck of a game and battled all night,” said the teary-eyed Finlay. “We just didn’t get the bounce we wanted. To lose the way we did, it was extremely tough. We have a great group of guys here in there. It really sucks coming up with the loss.”
Both teams weren’t able to capitalize on the powerplay, with the Vees going 0-for-3 and the Vipers 0-for-2.
Hunter Miska turned aside 27 for the shut out and was named the second star, while Todosychuk made 28 saves and was named the third star.
“We’re proud of them,” said Vipers coach-GM Mark Ferner. “They did everything that we asked them to do in this game. I told them sometimes the game can be cruel. We lose a draw, we go do what we’re supposed to do and block it. It’s just one of those things. We had one of them ourselves (Game 5). This game could have gone either way. We had some great opportunities. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
The Vees move on to round three, a round-robin featuring the three conference winners, Penticton, the No. 1 seed, hosts second-rated Nanaimo Clippers Wednesday night. The Clippers shaded the visiting Powell River Kings 3-2 on Sunday night to take that series in seven games. The Chilliwack Chiefs are the other conference champion.
