vees:blog

A pair of Penticton minor hockey products played a big role in Merritt’s 5-4 upset of a short-staffed Penticton Vees club on Tuesday.

19-year-old forward Dustin Johnson scored the goal that tied the game, and 16-year-old net-minder Cole Holowenko made 41 stops on 45 shots - including 21 in the third period - to beat their hometown Vees in Merritt.

Midway through the second period the Vees led the game 4-2, after getting a pair of goals from Alex Szczechura and Joey Holka. Szczechura now has 6 goals in 7 games as a member of the Vees, while Holka’s second of the game and fifth of the season came short handed on a breakaway shot.

The Cents scored three unanswered to win the game with Stephen Wall providing the winner in the third period on top of two assists earlier in the game. Silvan Harper had a goal and and assist and seven other Cents had a single point on the night. The Centennials now have 2 wins in 6 games and climb out of the Interior Conference basement with the win.

Denver Manderson kept his point streak intact as he set up the Vees lone power play goal. The Vees Captain now has a point in each of the club’s nine games played, and 25 points on the season. Isaac MacLoed made a great play from centre to set up the Vees first goal, Beau Bennett had a pair of helpers on the night, and Matt Paltridge added his second assist of the season in a losing cause.

The Vees went 1 for 5 on the power play while killing 3 of 4 penalties taken. Holka’s short-handed goal was the second the Vees have scored this year while down a man.

Joel Rumpel suffered his first BCHL loss (2-1-0) in his third game of his rookie year, while Holowenko earned his first junior hockey win in his fourth appearance in Merritt.

Not playing for the Vees on Tuesday were G - Sean Bonar (‘91 – Princeton), F - Garrett Milan (‘91 – St. Cloud State), and D - Joey LaLeggia (’92 – New Hampshire) as the trio were attending the Team Canada West evaluation camp for the 2009 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. Also missing Tuesday’s affair for the Vees was Boston Bruins prospect F - Ben Sexton (‘91 – Clarkson) due to illness.

After snapping their four game winning streak on Tuesday, the Vees (7-2-0-0) are next in action on Friday Night as they host the Trail Smoke Eaters. Opening face-off on Friday is at 7:05 while you can catch the pre-game show on EZ Rock at 6:45.