Vees beat Warriors thanks to Bowes’ hat trick

Rookie forward Cassidy Bowes recorded a hat trick as Penticton Vees opened their four-game pre-season slate with a 6-3 win over the West Kelowna Warriors on Wednesday at Royal LePage Place.

Shane Allan, Dylan Gutierrez and Matthew Byrne, with a shorthanded goal into an empty net, also scored for the Vees, who led 2-1 and 4-1 at the period breaks.

Ryan Cooper, Ryan Ostin and Ty Mosimann scored for West Kelowna, which was outshot 30-21.

Bowes opened the scoring just 34 seconds into the first period when an attempted shot deflected right to his stick at the side of the net. Cooper tied the game for the Warriors on a slick individual effort.

Bowes restored the Vees lead late in the frame when he jammed home a loose puck at the side of Reilly Morgan.

Anaheim Jr. Ducks defenceman Gutierrez clicked early in the second period when he let go a wrist shot from the left circle that beat a screened Carlos Sislo.

Shane Allan put the Vees up 4-1 by beating Sislo on the glove side from the slot.

Bowes completed his hat trick 35 seconds into the final period. The puck was pushed out from behind the Warriors net, and with Morgan out of position, Bowes was able to fire the puck from the bottom of the left circle to make it 5-1.

Ostin was able to stop the Vees streak of four- unanswered goals by beating Hildebrand five-hole on the power play. Ty Mosimann got West Kelowna within two midway through the period but Byrne sealed the deal with a shot from his own zone into the empty net with six minutes to go. Next game action for Penticton is the annual Peaches Cup intra-squad game today at 5 p.m. at the SOEC. Admission is free.

ICE CHIPS: Fans can take advantage of the “Rival Pack” offering five games against the Vees biggest rivals for $59. Call Laura Carleton at 250-493-8336 ext. 4 for details . . . . The Vees will do their fitness and conditioning testing on Saturday, and resume practice on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m . . . . The Vees play their only home pre-season game next Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. at the SOEC against West Kelowna. Penticton closes out the pre-season slate with two road games against the two-time defending Alberta league champion Brooks Bandits on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.