Photo: Cherie Morgan
SURREY, B.C. – The Penticton Vees were shutout 6-0 by the Surrey Eagles in the opening game of the Fred Page Cup Final, Friday at South Surrey Arena. The Eagles lead the best-of-seven league final 1-0, with Game Two on deck for Saturday.
The Eagles capitalized on the Vees uncharacteristic slopy puck management. Surrey scored twice on just five shots in the first period and had five goals on 15 shots through two periods. To put it into perspective, the Vees allowed just 12 goals in seven games against Salmon Arm.
“Just one of those games where everything that could go wrong did. A game like this is bound to happen over the course of a long playoff run and it did tonight. Now we adjust and respond appropriately tomorrow,” said Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg.
Penticton used both goaltenders in the Game One setback. Will Ingemann started for the Vees but was replaced by Andrew Ness in the second period. Ingemann surrendered four goals on 10 shots in 30 minutes of work. Ness gave up two goals on 12 shots.
Surrey led 2-0 after the first period on goals from Zachary Wagnon and Ante Zlomislic. Wagnon opened the scoring four minutes into the game, after Ingemann misplayed a dump in at the side of his net. Zlomislic doubled the Eagles lead at 11:10 when he scored at the side of the net, after a pass came from the goal.
The Eagles scored three more times in the second period to lead 5-0 through 40 minutes. Ryan Evenhuis made it 3-0 at 8:23 as he scored on a rebound out front. Nathan Oickle then made it 4-0 at 10:10. Surrey’s fourth goal triggered a goalie swap, as Ness came onto replace Ingemann. The Eagles scored once more in the middle frame, as Micah Berger extended the lead to 5-0 with 1:16 left in the period.
Surrey added one more goal in the final frame, as Evan Brown put the home team up 6-0 just past the seven minute mark of the third.
After the dust settled, the Eagles scored six goals on just 22 shots.
The six goals allowed by Penticton was the most they have surrendered in a game since January 5th, when they lost 7-4 to Prince George. Friday also marked the second time they have been shutout in the playoffs.
Penticton now looks for the series split tomorrow in Game Two at South Surrey Arena. The Vees own a 2-1 record coming off a loss in the postseason.
GAME STATS
Shots: 28-22 Vees
Vees Scoring: No scoring
Vees Goaltending: Will Ingemann 57:52 22/25 (W)
Power-Plays:
Vees: 0/0
Eagles: 0/0
Three Stars:
1) Ajeet Gundarah (28-save shutout)
2) Ryan Evenhuis (1G, 2A)
3) Evan Brown (1G, 2A)
Next Game: Saturday, May 18th, Game Two at South Surrey Arena; puck drop 7:00 pm
