Anthony Brodeur was glad to see Demico Hannoun score Saturday night.
The Penticton Vees’ 18-game winning streak was on the line at the South Okanagan Events Centre against the Nanaimo Clippers. The Vees needed double overtime to edge the Clippers 3-2 and extend their streak.
After taking a long pass from Dante Fabbro, Hannoun darted in on Evan Johnson and beat him with his seventh tally of the season and second straight game-winner.
“We have a big streak going and I didn’t want to lose it in overtime,” said Brodeur, the game’s first star following a 35-save performance. “It’s pretty exhilarating. It was a good game. It was a lot of fun to play in.”
Hannoun said potting the winner was “pretty sweet.”
“I saw guys changing and Jonesy made a nice heads up play,” said Hannoun, who was fired up after his winner.
After a scoreless first period, Vees captain Tyson Jost opened the scoring on a five-on-three power-play. It was easy pickings for Jost who had a wide open net to shoot at from the side as Fabbro and Easton Brodzinski created the play at 4:41. That lead lasted until 16:28 when Clippers captain Devin Brosseau scored the first of his two goals. Brosseau went for the wraparound but went wide at the side before scoring.
Brosseau gave the Clippers a 2-1 lead in the third period at 13:26. The Clippers took advantage of a failed clearing attempt and Kale Bennett handed the puck to Sheldon Rempal, who found Brosseau on a backdoor play. Brodeur lunged to try and make the save.
Brodeur, who is now 12-0, said the Clippers have skilled top line players.
“We did a good job of shutting them down and limiting their chances,” said Brodeur, adding that many opportunities were kept to the outside.
More than four minutes after Brosseau’s goal, Jost scored his second of the night when he wired a wrist shot from the high circle past Johnson’s glove side.
What impressed Brodeur about their win was the Vees’ performance on the penalty kill, which shut down all nine Clipper chances. He also liked their resiliency.
“We battled through and found a way to win,” said Hannoun, who noted he felt the officials made “weak calls”. “Brodeur was unreal. He kept us in the game.”
Scott Conway, named the Vees’ player of the month for October, had his point streak end at 18 games. A crowd of 2,266 attended the rematch of last year’s BCHL championship.
In other Vees news, defenceman Griffin Mendel will return from the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek with a gold medal.
Mendel and Canada White defeated Russian 6-2. Canada White trailed 2-1 after the first period, then scored five unanswered goals in the final two periods, including three in the second. Gabe Vilardi scored the winner.
Mendel played in all seven Canada White games. He helped his team defeat Sweden 2-1 in the semifinal by setting up the winning tally.
In other BCHL action, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks topped the Langley Rivermen 3-2. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs defeated the Prince George Spruce Kings 4-3 in overtime, while the Cowichan Valley Capitals doubled up the Vernon Vipers 6-3. The Wenatchee Wild doubled the Coquitlam Express 4-2 and the Trail Smoke Eaters defeated the Merritt Centennials 3-2.
