Vees fall in shootout at Salmon Arm

Akito Hirose scored the shootout winner as the Salmon Arm Silverbacks edged the depleted Penticton Vees 3-2 in BCHL action on Friday night at Shaw Centre.

The Vees (6-4-0-1) twice led in the shootout but after Ryan Sandelin was denied by Ethan Langenegger, Hirose scored Salmon Arm’s third goal in as many attempts.

Nick Unruh tied the game early in the third period and also scored in the shootout for the Silverbacks (6-4-1-0). Matthew Verboon scored in the first period and in the shootout.

Sandelin and rookie defenceman Jack Lagerstrom, with his first career BCHL goal, scored for the Vees. Lagerstrom and Silye assisted on Sandelin’s goal that gave the Vees the lead after just 17 seconds. Silye and Connor Hutchison scored the Vees shootout goals.

Langenegger was terrific with 39 saves, while Jack LaFontaine made 25 stops for the Vees, who dressed three players under the maximum — going with 10 forwards and five defencemen — due to injuries.

Defenceman Mason Snell returns from a two-game suspension tonight as the Vees welcome the Cowichan Valley Capitals to the South Okanagan Events Centre in a 6 p.m. puck-drop.

CENTENNIALS 8 WARRIORS 4

Bradley Cocca scored twice as first-place Merritt beat West Kelowna at the Nicola Valley Arena. Bradley Schneider, Brady Ziemer, Matthew Kopperud, Mathieu Gosselin, Michael Van Unen and Vincent Guy also scored for the Cents (8-6-0).

Willie Reim, with two, Mike Hardman and Tyler Pang scored for the Warriors (6-6-0), who trailed 4-3 and 5-4 at the period breaks.

Austin Roden made 29 saves for the Cents and Brock Baier stopped 40 shots for the Warriors, who welcome the Nanaimo Clippers to Royal LePage Place tonight at 7 p.m.