Vees score 1st win of new season

Drew Elser helped the Penticton Vees register their first win of the season.

Elser bagged his first two BCHL goals and the Vees evened their early-season record at 1-1 with a 4-2 victory over the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday night in Duncan. Ryan Sandelin and David Silye each had a goal and an assist and Lukas Sillinger had two helpers for the Vees.

Preston Brodziak and Olivier Gauthier scored for the Capitals (0-2-0-1). Jack LaFontaine made 19 stops for the Vees and Jack Grant stopped 36 shots for the Capitals.

After a scoreless first period, Elser blasted home his first from Jack Barnes and Luke Loheit just 26 seconds into the middle frame.

Sandelin made it 2-0 with his first of the season — and the Vees’ first power-play goal — from Lukas Sillinger at 8:39.

Brodziak got the home side back within 2-1 at 11:07, then LaFontaine had to make a big stop on a breakaway to keep the Vees on top.

The Vees got a huge goal with the teams skating four-a-side with 17.8 seconds left in the second period. Defenceman James Miller’s centering pass bounced in off Elser’s leg to make it a 3-1 game.

The Vees rode the momentum into the third and former Nanaimo Clippers centre Silye netted his first for Penticton from Sandelin and Sillinger at 2:12.

Gauthier cut the Vees’ lead to 4-2 with a power-play goal with 1:35 left.

The Vees finish up their two-game Island road trip by taking on the Victoria Grizzlies tonight at 7 p.m.

VIPERS 4 WARRIORS 3

Josh Latta scored twice early in the second period to break a scoreless tie as Vernon held off visiting West Kelowna at Kal Tire Place.

Michael Young and Nicholas Wildgoose also scored for the Vipers (2-1-0), while Willie Reim scored twice and Declan Douthart once for the Warriors.

After a scoreless first period, Vernon opened up a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes. Reim made it 4-3 with 10 seconds to go in the game. Aidan Hosein made 19 saves for Vernon and Connor Hopkins turned aside 38 shots for the Warriors.

Latta, Reim and Young were the three stars in front of 1,962 fans.

In two other Interior Division matchups, Trail won 6-3 at home over Salmon Arm and Merritt outlasted visiting Wenatchee 7-5.

In games tonight, Vernon stays home to take on Trail at 6 p.m., while West Kelowna welcomes Wenatchee to Royal LePage Place at 7 p.m.