The Penticton Vees took the opening game of the BCHL’s Interior Division Final with a 5-1 victory over the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Warriors would find themselves down in the first two minutes just like their opening round match with Salmon Arm, as Scott Conway opened the scoring from the slot with a quick shot after being left wide open.
Conway would be at it again, this time on the power play, as he scored with another quick wrist shot over the shoulder of Matthew Greenfield to double the lead, and put the Warriors in a hole.
West Kelowna would battle back in the middle frame, scoring the only goal as Connor Sodergren deflected one past Zach Driscoll to cut the deficit to just one goal. Shots were 16-15 Warriors after 40 minutes.
The Vees would strike quick in the third period, scoring two goals in 2:27, as Easton Brodzinski made it 3-1 finishing off a play by Tyson Jost, before Jost scored a power-play goal at 6:07 to widen the gap even further.
The Warriors would pay once again while shorthanded, allowing the final goal of the game off the stick of Owen Sillinger for Penticton’s third goal in five chances on the man advantage.
Keelan Williams made one save in the final 4:48 of the game, as he replaced Matthew Greenfield.
Game 2 of the Interior Division Final goes Saturday night in Penticton at 6 PM. You can listen live at www.mixlr.com/bchlwarriors
