Photo: #37 Justin Katz entered the game late in the 2nd period Friday night in relief for Johnny Derrick.
Photo Credit: Cherie Morgan Photography
April 29th, 2022
PENTICTON B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors were caught flat footed Friday night with the Vees taking Game #1 by a score of 8-1.
Both teams traded scoring chances in the first period but goaltenders Johnny Derrick and Kaeden Lane kept it scoreless after one.
The Vees came out flying to start the 2nd period. Things started with Luc Wilson scoring off the faceoff to make it 1-0 66 seconds into the period. Only 16 seconds later the Vees would score shorthanded after Jackson Nieuwendyk and Casey McDonald crashed the net to make it 2-0. Then after the Warriors turned the puck over Thomas Pichette would drive the net and score extending the lead to 3-0. The Warriors would score a shorthanded goal of their own when Chase Dafoe intercepted the puck inside the neutral zone feeding John Evans who scored his 8th of the playoffs to finally get the Warriors on the board. The Vees would restore the momentum after they capitalized from a deflection from the stick of Nick Ardanaz which would bounce right to Bradley Nadeau in the slot. Nadeau would make no mistake to restore the 3 goal lead. The Vees would get another pair of goals late in the second from Jackson Nieuwendyk and Josh Nadeau to make it 6-1 heading into the third period. Justin Katz would enter the game in relief of Johnny Derrick after the 6th goal was allowed.
The Vees would control play for the remainder of the game scoring two more. Thomas Pichette would score off a great feed from Brett Moravec to make it 7-1 then Jackson Nieuwendyk would put a bow on the Vees win with another shorthanded goal to complete his first career BCHL hat trick. Final score 8-1 Vees.
FINAL SHOTS: 43-22 Vees.
3 Stars
Jackson Nieuwendyk (3G)
Thomas Pichette (2G)
Brett Moravec (2A)
The Warriors have a chance to even the series up Saturday night in Game #2. Puck drop at 7:00pm from the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton. The game broadcast will be available on the Shaw Spotlight Channel, BCHLTV(formally HockeyTV) and the Warriors Mixlr Radio Network. We want to welcome our presenting sponsor of the postseason, London Drugs.
