Vees battle it out with arch-rivals West Kelowna
Vees’ goalie Adam Scheel doubles shutout numbers with 3-0 result
After posting his first BCHL shutout on Saturday, Adam Scheel didn’t have to wait long for a second. Scheel was terrific with 33 saves and Ryan Sandelin broke a scoreless tie in the second period as the Vees blanked the West Kelowna Warriors 3-0 for their eighth straight victory Wednesday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Massimo Rizzo and Dakota Boutin into an empty net added third-period goals for the Vees (18-5-1-2), who forged within one point of second-place Trail in the Interior Division while still holding two games in hand.
Nik Amundrud made 23 saves for the Warriors (16-12-1), who lost their second straight and remained in fifth place in the division.
The Vees got the breakthrough on a power play at 8:38 of the second. Jonny Tychonick fired a shot from the right point that struck Sandelin in the leg and left Amundrud with no chance for the save. Taylor Ward also assisted.
The game finally heated up in the third. Scheel – turned around and almost facing the net - made one of the saves of the season to deny Jared Marino five minutes in.
West Kelowna got on a power play but it was the Vees who nearly scored as Amundrud denied Grant Cruikshank on a clear breakaway and Nicky Leivermann, who rifled a shot off the crossbar.
Rizzo got the insurance goal with one second left on a Vees power play at 13:24, sneaking one through Amundrud at the left post on a onetimer. Leivermann and Luke Reid assisted.
Boutin put it beyond doubt as he swiped the puck at the Warriors blueline and slid it into an empty net with 2:09 to go.
Scheel, Sandelin and Rizzo were the three stars in front of 3,004 fans on another “Wicked Wednesday” at the SOEC.
The Vees bus out of Penticton early today for games in Nanaimo on Friday and Alberni Valley on Saturday, both 7 p.m. puck-drops. The Warriors visit Merritt on Friday and welcome Wenatchee to Royal LePage Place on Saturday.
NOTES: The Vees were once again without F Chris Klack and F Jackson Keane, both with upper-body injuries. Keane is projected to return Friday in Nanaimo … West Kelowna scratched injured F Parm Dhaliwal, F Bennett Norlin and F Matt Kowalski.