The red-hot Penticton Vees continued their winning ways Friday night, with the Cranbrook Bucks in town for their first visit to the South Okanagan since last spring’s BCHL pod season.
The Vees jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a goal at 1:41 from Brett Moravec. Penticton’s Moravec added his second goal of the opening period at 12:37. A last-minute goal from Jackson Neiuwendyk at 19:12 gave the Vees a 3-0 lead to start the second period, outshooting the Bucks 13-8 after twenty minutes.
Penticton’s offence continued to press the Bucks throughout the second period. Goals from Fin Williams, Bradly Nadeau and Josh Nadeau put the Vees up 6-0 by the final minute of the middle frame. A Cranbrook goal from Zeth Kindrachuk finally put the Bucks on the board at 19:31, ending Penticton goalie Kaeden Lane’s shutout bid. However, forty strong minutes from the Vees saw them bring a comfortable 6-1 lead into the third period.
Vees forward Spencer Smith had the only goal through the final twenty minutes, as Penticton cruised to a 7-1 win over the Bucks to extend their winning streak to eight games.
Friday’s setback was Cranbrook’s second straight loss, and their second loss of the season to the Vees. The Bucks enter Saturday’s game sporting a 9-8-1, .529% record, placing them 6th in the Interior Conference.
The Bucks were heavily outshot in Friday’s loss at 42-25, and finished 0/1 on the penalty kill. Cranbrook will look to bust out of their two-game losing streak Saturday in Vernon in their first ever encounter with the Vipers.
Buck Tracks:
- 1st goal of the season for Zeth Kindrachuk.
- Only one penalty called during Friday’s game (Cam Kungle – 2 mins, holding – 18:51 2nd period).
- Vees lead season series 2-0.
- Bucks’ first visit to Penticton since 2021 BCHL pod season.
