Niedermayer nets shootout winner as Vees edge visiting Smokies

Jackson Niedermayer scored in the sixth round of a shootout as the Penticton Vees beat the Trail Smoke Eaters 2-1 in front of 2,902 fans on Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

The Vees (21-10-1-2) snapped a two-game losing streak and beat the Smoke Eaters for the fourth time in as many meetings this season, with the teams doing battle again tonight at 7 p.m. at Trail's Cominco Arena.

Ryan Sandelin scored in regulation time and also had the other shootout goal for the Vees, who vaulted past the Merritt Centennials into second place in the Interior Division. Wenatchee Wild are now alone in first place after a 4-3 overtime win over the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Friday night.

Carter Jones scored for the Smokies (12-176-2), who remained in last place in the Interior.

Jack LaFontaine made 21 stops in regulation and five saves on six Trail attempts in the shootout. Adam Marcoux had 28 saves for Trail.

After a scoreless first period, Sandelin notched his team-leading 23rd goal on a 5-on-3 power play from Cassidy Bowes and James Miller at 11:22 of the second. Jones tied it up 2:17 into the third period. The five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime period was scoreless despite each team enjoying a power-play chance.

In the shootout, after the first three shooters on each team were stopped, Sandelin put the Vees ahead, only to have Owen Ozar tie it for the Smokies.

Niedermayer put the Vees ahead again, and this time LaFontaine denied Tyler Ghirardosi to seal the win.

WARRIORS 6, CENTENNIALS 3

Parm Dhaliwal scored with 7:01 to play to snap a 3-3 tie and West Kelowna went on to beat Merritt 6-3 at Royal LePage Place.

Merritt (21-12-21-1) had overcome a 3-0 deficit in the third period on goals by Bradley Cocca, Mattias Dal Monte and Matthew Kopperud, but Dhaliwal, Anthony Bishop and Cavin Tilsley, into an empty net, responded for the Warriors (22-14-0-1).

Lucas Cullen, Mike Hardman and Lucas Bahn had the other goals for the Warriors, who led 2-0 and 3-0 at the period breaks. Merritt outshot West Kelowna 51-33.

The Warriors host the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Sunday, 2:30 p.m. at RLP.

CAPITALS 3, VIPERS 1

Dan McIntyre netted the winner in the second period as Cowichan surprised Vernon at Kal Tire Place.

Brady Lynn and Luc Wilson also scored for the Capitals (9-20-4-1), while Michael Young replied for Vernon (12-13-6-3).

The Vipers, who had a 36-30 edge in shots, visit Salmon Arm on Sunday at 3 p.m.

The BCHL continues to play next week, with its holiday break from Dec. 23-28.