Recap: Silverbacks score late, blank Vees Friday night
Photo: Cherie Morgan
The Penticton Vees had their point streak end at 24 games after their 1-0 loss to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Friday at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
Friday was the Vees’ first regulation loss since opening night, back on September 22nd, in West Kelowna. Penticton had earned at least a single point in each of their 24 games before tonight’s setback. It also marks the first time the Vees have been shutout this season.
Penticton lost on a tough bounce- literally. With just 24 seconds left in regulation, Salmon Arm’s Ryan Gillespie had his pass go in off the leg of a Penticton defenceman and past Ingemann. That goal broke a scoreless deadlock and triggered the Silverbacks’ Teddy Bear Toss.
The Vees had less than half a minute to try and tie the game with the extra attacker, but they couldn’t produce a tying goal.
Goaltender Will Ingemann was stellar in the Vees’ crease, as the 18-year-old rookie stooped 30 of 31 shots. He was named the third star. Friday was Ingemann’s first regulation loss. He was 13-0-1-2 in his previous 16 games.
At the other end of the ice, Salmon Arm’s Eli Pulver picked up his second shutout of the season with his 28-save performance. Pulver was announced as the second star.
The Vees came into the game with a handful of regulars out of the lineup and got bit by the injury bug once more. Forward Billy Renfrew left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury. Already sidelined due to injury was Max Heise, Conyr Hellyer, and Anselmo Rego. Simon Meier was also absent from the lineup, as he is off to Switzerland’s World Junior Selection Camp.
Power plays were four to one in favour of Salmon Arm, but despite the lopsided numbers, the Vees penalty kill was excellent, going 4-4. That included killing-off the Silverbacks’ fourth power play inside the final three minutes of regulation.
Friday also marked the debut of defenceman Lucas Sorace. The 19-year-old was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Earlier in the day, the BCHL unveiled the results from their All-Star Weekend Fan Vote. After a week-long campaign, forward Ryan MacPherson was one of the final seven players voted in to participate in the league’s All-Star Tournament and Skills Competition in Penticton on January 20th.
GAME STATS
Penticton 0 at Salmon Arm 1
Shots: 31-28, Silverbacks
Vees Scoring: No scoring
Vees Goaltending: Will Ingemann (L) 59:35, 30/31
Power-Plays
Vees: 0/1
Silverbacks 0/4
Three Stars:
1) Ryan Gillespie
2) Eli Pulver
3) Will Ingemann
NEXT UP: The rematch between the Vees (19-2-2-2) and Silverbacks (15-7-0-1) goes tomorrow, Saturday, December 9, at the SOEC; puck drop is 6:00 pm. It’s the Vees’ Teddy & Toque Toss, sponsored by Bannister Chevrolet. Tickets are available at the Valley First box office, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com.