Photo: Island Images Photography
NANAIMO, B.C. – Louie Wehmann called game. The Penticton Vees forward scored the game-winner with just five seconds left in regulation, as the Vees stunned the Nanaimo Clippers 2-1, Saturday night at Frank Crane Arena.
The win was the Vees’ third in a row and seventh in their last eight games. Penticton now sits in sole possession of second place in the Interior Conference, and are tied on points with the Brooks Bandits, who sit first with the tiebreaker.
“Our team keeps finding ways to get the job done. Give Nanaimo credit, they blocked a ton of shots tonight and made it difficult for our guys all night, but we dominated that third period and got rewarded late. Give our team credit, they stuck with it and didn’t get frustrated,” said Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg.
Wehmann’s game-winner came in the dying seconds of regulation. Nolan Stevenson fired the shot from the point, and it was Wehmann who reached out and tipped the puck down, past Nanaimo goalie Otto Nuto with five seconds to go.
GAME WINNER WITH 5 SECONDS TO GO!
Louie Wehmann deflects home the winning goal in the dying seconds and Penticton gets the 2-1 road win!
@Fraser_Vees | @PentictonVees #BCHL pic.twitter.com/73Vy3gx5ct
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) December 1, 2024
Posthumus tied the game earlier in the third period, as he scored on the power play at 12:18 to bring the Vees level, 1-1. For Posthumus, it was his ninth of the season and third in his last two games. He redirected Ryden Evers’ pass over the goalie just five seconds into the man advantage.
Nanaimo led 1-0 after the first period on a power play goal by Dylan Kinch, and took that lead into the third period, before Penticton rallied for two goals.
Penticton thought they had opened the scoring in the first, but Luke Posthumus had a goal called back after a review determined a Vees’ player had contacted the Nanaimo goalie. Posthumus would eventually get a measure of revenge in the third period.
Ethan Buenaventura improved his record to 3-0, as he stopped 17 of 18 shots.
Nanaimo’s Chazz Nixon started the game and stopped all 21 shots he faced, but left the game due to injury, three minutes into the third period. Finnish goaltender Otto Nuto came in and stopped 16 of 18 shots in relief.
Saturday was the Vees fourth come-from behind win when trailing after two periods. Those four wins are tied for the most in the BCHL. The Vees 11 road wins are also the most in the BCHL. Defenceman Nolan Stevenson had a pair of assists in Saturday’s win and now has five points in his last three games. With his assist, Ryden Evers also has five points in his last three games.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 39 Clippers-18
Scoring: Luke Posthumus (9), Louie Wehmann (4)
Goaltending: Ethan Buenaventura (W) 17/18, 60:00
Vees Power-Play: 2/3
Vees Penalty-Kill: 0/1
Three Stars:
1) Louie Wehmann
2) Dylan Kinch
3) Luke Posthumus
Up Next: The Vees (18-6-0-0) visit the Powell River Kings (5-15-2-1) on Sunday, December 1st, at 1:30 pm.
