Vees, Smokies split
Late goal helps Penticton salvage single point in much-anticipated battle
Michael Campoli’s first BCHL goal helped the Penticton Vees split the points in a thrilling encounter with the Trail Smoke Eaters.
The 19-year-old defenceman scored with 4:38 to go as the Vees twice rallied in the third period to earn a 2-2 tie with the Smoke Eaters in BCHL action in front of 3,108 fans Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Dakota Boutin also scored for the Vees (25-92-3), who stayed a point ahead of the Smoke Eaters (25-13-3-1) for second place in the Interior Division.
Jackson Keane assisted on both goals for the Vees, who finished their four-game homestand at 3-0-0-1. The Vees are now only four points behind first-place Vernon, who lost 5-0 at Merritt.
Blaine Caton and Carter Jones scored for Trail, which is unbeaten in regulation in their last seven games.
Adam Scheel made 19 saves for the Vees including a jaw-dropping blocker save as he was spun around and facing the net in the first overtime period.
Adam Marcoux was spectacular for Trail with 41 saves.
The Vees completely dominated the first period, outscoring the visitors 15-4, but it was Trail who got the only goal.
On the power play, Tuck’s high shot struck Scheel in the mask and Caton batted it out of Penticton Vees defenceman Michael Campoli tries to pull away from Trail Smoke Eaters defenceman Troy Ring Friday at the SOEC. mid-air before stuffing in his own rebound about a foot from the goalline.
The Vees once again had the better of the play in the second period, but Marcoux was terrific and got some help after Vees defenceman Jonny Tychonick deked him to the ice before backhanding the puck off the post.
The Vees finally tied the game at 6:58 of the third. Defenceman Kenny Johnson’s attempted wraparound struck Boutin’s skate and caromed past Marcoux.
But Trail regained the lead on another power play as Jones split the defence and beat Scheel with a terrific shot just inside the post at 11:02.
Campoli, in just his fourth game for the Vees, tied it again with 4:38 to go. The 19-year-old defenceman kept the puck alive at the blue-line and fired a wrist that found its way through traffic and past Marcoux.
A pair of five-minute overtime periods solved nothing.
Marcoux, Campoli and Boutin were the three stars.
The Vees visit the Chilliwack Chiefs tonight at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s BCHL final won by the Vees in seven games.
CENTENNIALS 5, VIPERS 0 Goals by Colton Gerlib, Mathieu Gosselin, Bradley Cocca, Christian Sabin and Henry Cleghorn gave Merritt (17-19-2-1) the win over visiting Vernon.
Austin Roden made 24 saves for the shutout while Anthony Yamnitsky made 19 stops for Vernon (27-10-1-4), who were playing their first game since the death of long-time owner Duncan Wray on Thursday.
The Vipers host the Cowichan Valley Capitals tonight at 6 p.m.
WARRIORS 5, WILD 4 (OT) RJ Murphy scored 40 seconds into overtime as visiting West Kelowna surprised Wenatchee. Stephen Kleysen with two, Michael Ryan and Jared Marino scored for the Warriors (21-18-1-1).
Chad Sasaki, Daniel Chladek, Jasper Weatherby and Sam Morton replied for the Wild (25-12-3-1), who stayed tied with Trail and a point behind the Vees.
Nik Amundrud made 40 saves for the Warriors and Austin Park stopped 33 for the Wild.
The two teams meet again tonight at 7:05 p.m. at the Town Toyota Centre in Wenatchee.