Connor Reilly put on quite an offensive show for the Penticton Vees.
The 20-year-old Chanhassen, Minnesota native scored five times and added an assist as the Vees dumped the Westside Warriors 7-4 before nearly 1,100 fans at Royal LePage Place Saturday.
Reilly scored on the Vees first shot of the game, a hard slapped from the left faceoff dot 4:08 into the opening period. He made it 3-0 six minutes later with a wrist shot from the low slot before wrapping up the scoring with Penticton's final three goals, all on the power-play.
Dru Morrison had a pair of goals and an assist in a losing cause for the Warriors, who lost their seventh game in a row.
Richard Vanderhoek and Devon Hascarl also scored for the Warriors.
Ryan Reilly and Steven Fogarty scored the other Penticton goals.
Connor Reilly's first goal spelled an early end for Steven Racine who pulled himself from the contest following the goal.
"It was his decision. He was sick tonight and he pulled himself. I didn't know he was sick," says Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster.
Back-up James Leonard went the rest of the way in goal, surrendering six goals on 20 shots.
Despite the losing skid, Ferster says the team continues to play hard for the most part but just isn't getting the hockey bounces.
"It just starts with one win. Again, we get a pretty good performance tonight, we get four goals and we aren't in the game from the first shot. It's difficult."
Both teams were forced to dip into their affiliate pool Saturday.
The Vees were without seven players including five who are taking part in the World Junior A Challenge.
The Warriors were without five players due to injury including Seb Lloyd, Travis Blanleil, Josh Monk, Max French and Brennan Clark.
On Saturday, the Warriors held a wide edge on the shot clock, outshooting Penticton 39-21 including a 15-2 edge in the final period.
The loss leaves the Warriors in a fifth place tie with Prince George and Salmon Arm in the Interior Conference four points in back of fourth place Chilliwack.
Only the top four teams will qualify for the playoffs.
The Warriors will hit the one-third mark of the season Friday when they kick off a two game road trip in Langley. They play in Chilliwack Saturday before returning home to host the Merritt Centennials Wednesday, November 23.
Visit The General’s Report for more on the Westside Warriors.
