Photo: Cherie Morgan
Penticton, BC. – The Penticton Vees are back in the win column after their 6-1 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters, on Remembrance Day Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC).
Over 3,500 fans packed the SOEC, as the Vees improved their home record to 7-0-0-0* and their home win now sits at 48 games and counting.
Defenceman Francesco Dell’Elce scored a pair of goals in the second period, as part of a four-goal middle frame for Penticton. Matthew Biotti and Attila Lippai also scored in the second. Biotti’s goal was his his first in the BCHL. James Fisher opened the scoring in the first period and Callum Arnott found the back of the net in the third.
Goaltender Will Ingemann picked up his 10th win of the season, as he stopped 22 of 23 shots. Ingemann is now 10-0-1-1 on the season. He ranks first in the BCHL in goals-against average (1.79) and fourth in save percentage (.928).
The two teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes, with Fisher scoring for Penticton in the opening frame. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect opened the scoring at 7:31, when he flipped a rebound up and over Trail goaltender Teagan Kendrick.
The Smoke Eaters’ Jason Stefanek tied the game right off a face-off, putting a backhand up and over Ingemann at 10:41.
Penticton found another gear in the middle frame, as they scored four goals on 16 shots. Dell’Elce scored his first of two at 1:49 to put the Vees ahead 2-1. The rookie defenceman’s power-play goal from the blue line found its way through traffic and past Kendrick. The Vees then scored three goals in just over four minutes to blow it wide open.
Biotti scored his first BCHL goal at 14:38 to extend the Vees lead to 3-1. Parker Murray, who made his regular season debut Saturday, found Biotti out front with a pass from behind the net. The 6’5 defenceman wired a shot from the circle past the goalie’s blocker to put Penticton up by a pair.
Not even two minutes later, Lippai made it 4-1 after an extended shift in the Trail zone. Lippai stepped out front off the goal line and tucked the puck under the goalie’s pad at 16:14. Lippai’s seventh of the year.
Dell’Elce picked up his second of the period with just over a minute left in the second. The King City, ON, product hammered a slap shot from up top that he labeled for the top corner. His fourth of the season at 18:41 made it 5-1.
Arnott capped off the scoring in the third period with his solo rush down the left-wing. The Co-Captain beat the Trail defenceman wide, before snapping the puck over the goalie’s glove at 4:39; his 10th goal.
*One home win at the BCHL Showcase in Seattle
GAME STATS
Final Score: 6-1 Vees
Shots: 41-23, Vees
Vees Scoring: Dell’Elce (2), Fisher, Biotti, Lippai, Arnott
Vees Goaltending: Will Ingemann (W) 60:00 22/23
Power-Plays
Vees: 1/2
Smoke Eaters: 0/0
Three Stars:
Attendance: 3,574
NEXT UP: The Vees (13-1-2-1) host the Prince George Spruce Kings on Friday, November 17th, at the South Okanagan Events Centre; puck drop is 7:00 pm. Tickets are available at the Valley First box office at the SOEC, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
