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Bucks late comeback nearly thwarts Vees

The Cranbrook Bucks and Penticton Vees had no shortage of dramatics in their game Saturday, with Penticton holding on for a 5-4 overtime win off the heels of a late Cranbrook comeback.

The Vees got started early, with Max Hiese scoring just over one minute into the game to give the Vees a 1-0 lead. Both goalies clamped down the rest of the way, and the Bucks trailed 1-0 at the first intermission.

The second period yielded no offense for either team. The Bucks outshot Penticton 12-11 in the middle frame, but still found themselves down 1-0 after forty minutes.

The floodgates opened in the third period. The Vees added a pair of goals in the first seven minutes from Luke Posthumus and Callum Stone to go up 3-0. A Bryce Sookro goal at 8:48 finally put the Bucks on the board, and cut Penticton’s lead to 3-1. However, the Vees quickly restored their three goal lead with another tally from Posthumus. Penticton’s 4-1 lead held steady into the final minutes, then the bounces started going Cranbrook’s way. The Bucks got goals from Rasmus Svartstrom and Grant Denuccio less than ninety seconds apart to quickly pull to within one goal of Penticton at a 4-3 score. The clock ticked down to the final minute of regulation, and a scramble in front of the Vees net gave way to Shane Baker’s tying goal with fifty-one seconds to go. The game was suddenly at a 4-4 tie and bound for overtime after the third period.

Penticton managed to salvage two points with a quick overtime goal from Ryden Evers to secure a 5-4 win at 1:09 into the extra frame.

Saturday’s overtime loss puts Cranbrook’s record at 17-13-2, Penticton won the shots battle 33-30. On special teams, Cranbrook’s power play finished 0/2 and they were 1/2 on the penalty kill.

The Bucks are off for the BCHL All Star break. They’ll return to action January 24 versus the Spruce Grove Saints.

Buck Tracks:

  • First BCHL goal for Grant Denuccio.
  • Rasmus Svartstrom up to 25 goals on the season.