Vees start new year with loss at home

Salmon Arm stings Penticton; Vernon defends home ice against Warriors

A sputtering power play, a hot goaltender and a late goal contrived to halt the Penticton Vees three-game winning streak.

Hudson Schandor scored with 4:48 left to break the tie as the Salmon Arm Silverbacks surprised first-place Penticton 3-1 in the first game of 2019 for both teams after the holiday break in front of 3,011 fans Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Matthew Armitage made 37 saves for the Silverbacks (18-15-4-0) and thwarted the Vees on eight power play chances, including a pair of two-man advantages in the second period.

Wyatt Marlow with his first of the season for Salmon Arm, and Andre Ghantous, with his eighth for Penticton, traded goals late in the second period.

Jack LaFontaine made 26 saves for the Vees (24-12-1-2), who held a 27-12 edge in shots through 40 minutes.

Armitage, Schandor and LaFontaine were the three stars.

The Interior Division rivals do it all over again Sunday at 3 p.m. at Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.

The Silverbacks also play tonight, hosting the Surrey Eagles.

VIPERS 4 WARRIORS 3

Brendan Kim scored twice as Vernon held on to beat visiting West Kelowna at Kal Tire Place.

Josh Latta and Colten Bilodeau also scored for the Vipers (14-16-6-3), who led 1-0 and 2-1 at the period breaks.

Bennett Norlin, Chase Dubois and Parm Dhaliwal scored for the Warriors (22-17-0-1), who lost their third straight.

Aidan Porter made 32 saves for the Vipers while Connor Hopkins stopped 38 shots for the Warriors.

Kim, Latta and Dubois were the three stars in front of 2,110 fans.

The Warriors were 0-for-4 on the power play while Vernon scored once in three tries.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the third, Vernon surprised West Kelowna with two goals in six minutes.

The fourth-place Warriors couldn’t capitalize against the Interior Division’s worst team in Vernon.

Both teams are at home tonight as Vernon takes on Merritt at 6 p.m., and West Kelowna entertains the Trail Smoke Eaters, 7 p.m. at Royal LePage Place.