The Penticton Vees dominated the West Kelowna Warriors 7-2 last night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

James Miller would put the Vees on the board with a goal 7:38 into the first period. Miller took advantage of a Warriors turnover on the Penticton blue line to make a break away, beating Connor Hopkins on the blocker side.

Luke Loheit added to the team’s lead two minutes later, taking a pass from Cole Shepard and wiring a wrist shot into the top corner over Hopkins glove. Heading into intermission the shots were 17-6 for the Vees.

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The @penticton.vees have come out strong against the @bchlwarriors! They go into the second period up 2-0, with 17 shots to 6!

A post shared by Penticton Western News (@pentictonnews) on Dec 21, 2018 at 7:52pm PST

A lucky slap shot by Mason Snell found its way to the back of the net, beating a screened Hopkins four minutes into the second period. A minute and a half later, Massimo Rizzo jumped on a rebound and flicked it into the net.

Rizzo’s goal was contested at first when officials said he kicked it in, but after a short conference they ruled it a goal. This would end Hopkins’ night, with Brock Baier taking the crease for the Warriors.

Jack Lagerstrom made it a 5-0 game during a powerplay, angling a wrist shot through Baier’s five hole. Just over a minute later, Lukas Sillinger took a drop feed from Ryan Sandelin at the Warriors blue line, firing a wrist shot past Baier.

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The @penticton.vees aren’t letting up one bit! They’ve racked up a 5 goal lead and go into the third period 6-1! And stayed tuned, after the game, VEES forward Cassidy Bowes cuts his hair to donate for cancer!

A post shared by Penticton Western News (@pentictonnews) on Dec 21, 2018 at 8:45pm PST

West Kelowna would get on the board with 1:15 left in the second period when Mike Hardman’s pass from the right circle bounced off Miller’s skate and into the net. The Warriors would score their second and final goal early in the third when Chase Dubois snuck a wrist shot past Derek Krall.

Sillinger went on to put the puck in the Warrior’s net one last time, making the game 7-2 for the Vees. The teams face off again tonight for the last game of 2018 in West Kelowna.

Vees win 7-2 over the West Kelowna Warriors! @LLoheit named the games first star with a goal and two assists. @Bowesie92 is currently having his hair cut off on the ice, a total of $8,116.69 raised for children's cancer research! What incredible support! Thank you everyone

— Penticton Vees (@PentictonVees) December 22, 2018

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