Vees run streak to 9, beat Nanaimo
Penticton prevails in battle of top teams
Nine is just fine for the Penticton Vees. Grant Cruikshank scored the go-ahead goal at 6:46 of the second period as the Vees edged the Nanaimo Clippers 2-1 for their ninth straight victory in BCHL action on Friday at the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo. Owen Sillinger scored his team-leading 12th for the Vees (19-5-1-2), while Brady Lynn replied for the Clippers (15-10-3-2), who lost for the first time in regulation in 13 games.
Adam Scheel — who gave up the one goal after back-to-back shutouts — made 22 saves for the win, while Taz Burman stopped 32 shots for the Clippers. The teams traded power-play goals in the first period. Lynn finished off a nice passing play at 12:34, but Sillinger tied it for the Vees on a similar type play from Ryan Sandelin and Taylor Ward with 13 seconds to go.
The Vees dominated the second period and got the only goal. Cruikshank neatly batted a rebound out of the air to the right of Burman with Ben Allen and Jackson Keane — returning after a nine-game absence due to injury — earning assists.
The Vees had a 46-second 5-on-3 power play midway through the third period but couldn’t convert.
The Clippers got Burman to the bench with 40 seconds left, but the Vees were able to hold the fort.
Penticton closes out the two-game Island trip by taking on the struggling Alberni Valley Bulldogs (8-14-2-4) tonight at 7 p.m.
The Vees have already beaten Alberni twice this season — 3-2 at the Showcase Tournament in Chilliwack on Sept. 22, and 4-2 on Oct. 27 in Penticton.
ICE CHIPS: Vees defencemen Jonny Tychonick, Ryan O’Connell and Luke Reid played Friday but will miss tonight’s game to attend the Team Canada West selection camp in Calgary for the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. The WJAC goes Dec. 10-16 in Truro, Nova Scotia . . . . Vees F Lukas Sillinger was scratched Friday but will draw back in tonight along with an affiliated player on defence . . . . The Vees and Clippers meet again on Dec. 16 in Penticton on the annual Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Centennials 7 Warriors 4: Rylan Van Unen scored 41 seconds into the third period to snap a 3-3 tie and Merritt went on to hand West Kelowna its third straight loss.
Joey Berkovic, Nicholas Wicks, Zach Court, Brendan Schneider, Henry Cleghorn and Zach Zorn also scored for Merritt (11-13-2-1).
Stephen Kleysen, Chase Dubois, Max Bulawka and Chase Stevenson scored for the Warriors (16-13-1).
Jacob Berger was sensational with 51 saves for the Centennials, while Cole Demers made 26 saves for the Warriors.
The Warriors host the Wenatchee Wild tonight at 7 p.m. The Wild (19-8-1) won 4-1 in Salmon Arm on Friday.
The first-place Vernon Vipers welcome the Victoria Grizzlies to Kal Tire Place tonight at 6 p.m.