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Penticton Vees continue winning streak on home ice

Vees beat Victoria 6-3 before a sold out crowd Saturday night

The Penticton Vees put on an exciting show as they continued their winning streak on home ice Saturday night.

Vees got a pair of goals from Jackson Nieuwendyk and four third-period markers to help them to a 6-3 victory over the Victoria Grizzlies in front of a sold out crowd (50 per cent capacity) at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

It was Orange Shirt night sponsored by the Penticton Indian Band, with Chief Greg Gabriel dropping the first puck, drumming and singing at centre ice and many in the audience wearing the symbolic orange shirts.

Up against the Grizzlies, the Vees struggled to find the back of the net for the first two periods.

The Vees outshot the Grizzlies by a 12-1 margin over the course of the first 20 minutes but the period ended scoreless.

As they did on Wednesday night, the Vees were quick to strike in the opening part of the second period as Nieuwendyk buried his second goal of the season.

A minute later, Victoria’s Michael Hoekstra evened the score at 1-1.

The Vees jumped ahead for the second time in the game at the 5:38 mark of the second period as Brett Moravec completed a gorgeous tic-tac-toe passing play, finishing the play for his third goal of the season to make it a 2-1 Vees lead.

The Grizzlies made their way back once again and scored two goals in quick succession to go ahead for the first time in the game.

Josh Nadeau tied the game for Penticton on the powerplay after a strong pass from Luc Wilson off the rush, tying the game at 3-3 at the 6:12 mark of the third period.

It was Nieuwendyk who again made his presence felt and landed with the eventual game winning goal at the 8:36 mark, making it 4-3.

Wilson completed his three-point night, adding a goal on the powerplay to extend the Vees lead to 5-3. Nadeau spotted Wilson in the left face-off circle from the slot as he cocked a wrist shot and beat a down and out Cole Schwebius for his ninth goal of the season.

Frank Djurasevic closed out the game with his first goal of the season, finding the back of an empty net when the Grizzlies pulled their goalie.

The Vees (10-2-0-0) continue their four-game home stand with another Wicked Wednesday as they host the Merritt Centennials (0-12-1-0) for the first time this season at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Puck drop is slated for 6:30 p.m. This is also the night the Vees will honour the legacy of Neil Jamieson and the impact he had on the hockey club.

READ MORE: Neil Jamieson to be honoured during Penticton Vees’ home game Nov. 17



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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