Photo: Kristal Burgess Photography
SALMON ARM, B.C. – The Penticton Vees had their four-game win streak snapped on Friday, in their 2-1 loss to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at Rogers Rink.
Friday was the Vees first loss to Salmon Arm this season, as they had won the previous two meetings. With the win, the Silverbacks moved into second place, two points ahead of the Vees.
Penticton iced just 17 skaters, 11 forwards, as they were missing three regulars due to injury. Despite being short-staffed, the coaching staff liked how their team competed on the road against a very good home team.
Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg Post-Game
“I thought we battled hard tonight, especially in the first two periods; we controlled a good chunk of the game. We were a little slow out of the gate in the third, but we made a push but just came out just short. It felt like a game a bounce was going to be the difference, and Salmon Arm got it tonight,” said Vees’ Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg post-game.
Louie Wehmann scored the Vees’ only goal, five minutes into the second period, which tied the game 1-1 at that juncture. It was Wehmann’s third goal in his last four games.
Goaltender Will Ingemann was very solid in a losing effort, as he stopped 26 of 28 shots. Ingemann stopped 20 of 21 shots he saw over the last two periods.
Salmon Arm’s Aaron Van Wie scored both of their goals, his first two of his BCHL career. Van Wie opened the scoring in the first period and then scored the game-winner midway through the third. The rookie forward had just one assist in his previous 11 games.
Silverbacks’ 20-year-old goaltender Andrew Ballantyne was nearly unbeatable, as he turned aside 29 of 30 shots and was named the second star.
Salmon Arm opened the scoring late in the first period. Van Wie’s first BCHL goal was the icebreaker at 17:52, after he scored on a breakaway from just inside the Vees’ blueline.
Wehmann tied the game early in the second period for Penticton. Wehmann came down the wing and his wrist shot beat Ballantyne over the glove at 5:20. Wehmann’s third tied it 1-1. It was quite the dominant second period for the Vees, who outshot Salmon Arm 16-5.
Van Wie’s second of the night and the game winner came at 10:56 of the third period. The Silverbacks came out with a strong push in the final frame and Van Wie scored the game winner on an odd-man rush. Penticton turned the puck over at the Silverbacks’ blue line and Salmon Arm quickly countered. The rush was finished off by Van Wie at the side of the net.
Penticton did pull the goalie for the extra attacker with just over two minutes left but failed to manufacturer a tying goal.
Penticton was missing forward Max Heise due to an upper-body injury. He joined 20-year-old defencemen Matthew Biotti and Michael Fisher on the injured list.
The Vees are now 2-1-0-0-0 versus the Silverbacks this season. The two teams meet again on January 10, in Penticton.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 30 Silverbacks-28
Scoring: Louie Wehmann (3)
Goaltending: Will Ingemann (L) 26/28, 57:55
Vees Power-Play: 0/1
Vees Penalty-Kill: 2/2
Three Stars:
Up Next: The Vees (15-5-0-0) host the Vernon Vipers (6-9-4-0) on Saturday, November 23, at 6:00 pm. Tickets are available online at www.valleyfirsttix.com, and at the Valley First box office, starting at 10:00 am tomorrow.
