Penticton Vees host rematch with Wenatchee Wild

West Kelowna also defeated, 5-4 by Merritt

The depleted Penticton Vees held the fort for more than 50 minutes before the roof caved in.

Cristophe Tellier, Nathan Iannone and Matt Dorsey scored in a 4:29 span in the third period as the Wenatchee Wild overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the visiting Vees 5-2 on Friday night at the Town Toyota Center. Former Vees forward Matt Gosiewski added a pair of late empty-net goals as the Wild (20-10-2) won their seventh straight game and pulled within one point of the first-place Vees in the Interior Division.

The Merritt Centennials stayed tied with the Wild for second after winning 5-4 in West Kelowna.

Cole Shepard and Jack Barnes scored in a 1:19 span in the first period for the Vees (20-9-1-2), who were missing eight regulars and dressed just 15 skaters.

Defenceman Carson Kosobud assisted on both goals for his first two points as a member of the Vees.

Cal Sandquist made 14 saves to get the win in relief of Austin Park, while Derek Krall made 20 stops for the Vees.

The two teams do battle again tonight at 6 p.m. in the annual Teddy Bear Toss Night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

The Vees weathered an early storm and struck for two goals in the latter stages of the opening period.

Shepard knocked in a rebound of Kosobud’s shot at 14:14, then Luke Loheit and Kosobud combined to tee up Barnes at 15:33.

That was the end of the line for Park, who was replaced by Sandquist after making just two saves on four shots.

The Vees nursed the lead until the last 10 minutes of the third period.

Tellier scored from Iannone at 10:42, then Iannone deflected Jacob Modry’s low shot past Krall to tie the game at 14:40.

Just 43 seconds later, Dorsey scored on a terrific individual effort to put the Wild ahead 3-2 with what stood up as the winning goal.

The Vees got Krall to the bench for an extra attacker with 2:10 to go, but Gosiewski clinched it for the Wild with an empty-net goal at 18:56 and another with seven seconds left.

CENTENNIALS 5, WARRIORS 4

Matthew Kopperud scored twice and Brett Roloson broke a 4-4 tie with 4:02 left as Merritt triumphed at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna.

Vincent Guy and Brendan Schneider also scored for Merritt (20-11-1-1).

Chase Dubois, with two, Mike Hardman and Parm Dhaliwal scored for the Warriors (18-14-0-1).

The Centennials outshot the Warriors 26-21. The Warriors visit the Vernon Vipers tonight at 6 p.m., while Merritt hosts the Nanaimo Clippers.