Scott Conway hit the 50-goal plateau against the Victoria Grizzlies Thursday, but his milestone goal won’t be the only thing the game will be remembered for. Down four goals, the Penticton Vees fashioned together a 7-5 come from behind win at the Q Centre.
The comeback started at 19:02 of second period with the Vees on a power-play. Demico Hannoun scored his 12th goal on a play the team worked on earlier this week and was the turning point to Vees coach-general manager Fred Harbinson. The Vees coach took a chance and pulled Driscoll for a six-on-four advantage that could have resulted in an open net goal to seal the game.
“Instead, we make it 5-2 going into the third. It gave us something to kind of cheer about going into the locker room,” said Harbinson.
When asked what he said during the intermission, Harbinson replied, “Nothing that you would want to put in the paper.”
Early into the third period, Luke Voltin, who just accepted a scholarship along with Hannoun to go to Northern Michigan University in the fall, finished a set up by Owen Sillinger, named the game’s first star, to make it 5-3. More than six minutes later, Sillinger and Chris Gerrie set up Dixon Bowen, the game’s third star, for his second of the night. Sillinger then tied the game at five with his 15th goal at 9:29 of the third period. Hannoun and Dante Fabbro collected assists.
“We just overtook the game and steamrolled them in the third period,” said Harbinson.
Brooks scored the winner from a pass by Nicholas Jones. Galajda was replaced by Mitchel Benson after allowing six goals on 40 shots. Conway’s 50th goal came with an empty net staring at him.
“I think it will be one of those games they will always remember,” said Harbinson of the comeback. “Since I’ve been here we’ve had a couple of crazy comebacks.”
Harbinson said he hopes his players can build character from that win.
The Vees opened the scoring at 2:47 of the opening period. Colton Poolman set up Bowen for his sixth goal to beat Galajda. The Grizzlies, wearing retro Victoria Salsa jerseys, evened things at one when Brayden Gelsinger beat Anthony Brodeur for his 22nd goal at 6:02. A little more than three minutes later, Braeden Cross scored his first to send the Grizzlies into their dressing room with a 2-1 lead.
“I thought that it was a long day leaving early in the morning. I thought we came out decent. Then after that, I thought we had trouble moving pucks,” said Harbinson. “Our back end didn’t do a very good job of handling the pressure in handling pucks. We had some major turnovers. Getting out of the period down by a goal, nothing too bad to worry about.”
There was nothing to worry about until the Vees had a “complete meltdown” said Harbinson, and the Grizzlies scored three goals in a two-minute span in the final half of the second period. Gelsinger scored his second of the night, then Cole Pickup added his 16th and Alex Peck made it 5-1 with his fifth. Brodeur was pulled after that goal. He finished with 21 saves on the night. Zachary Driscoll stopped all seven shots he faced in 22 minutes and two seconds of action.
As for Conway’s accomplishment, he’s the first Penticton junior player since Chuck Kobasew in 1999/2000 to hit the 50-goal mark and the Osoyoos product finished with 54 goals and 106 points.
“It’s a special thing,” said Harbinson. “It was a key time for him to get that goal. He’s had a hell of a year and hopefully he has more to come.”
The Vees head to Nanaimo today to take on the Clippers, who are second overall in the BCHL with a record of 33-16-1-1.
