It was one win and one loss for the two AJHL teams on day one of the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup.
Penticton Vees (BCHL) vs. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
Early goals sunk the Saints in game one as they fell 11-3 to the BCHL champion Penticton Vees.
Five first period goals had the Vees up 5-0. Riley Alfred (assist to Gabe Bast @0:19) deflected the point shot from Bast and beat Saints (starting) goaltender Matthew Murray. Just 31 seconds after that the Vees would strike again. Connor Chartier (assists to Dakota Conroy and Steen Cooper @0:50) snapped a quick shot from the slot to make it 2-0 less than a minute into the game. Demico Hannoun (assists to Patrick Newell and Lewis Zerter-Gossage @5:46) finished off a three on one beating Murray over the glove. That would spell the end of the night for Murray, who would give up three goals on five shots. Steen Cooper (assists to Connor Chartier and Miles Gendron @7:12) tipped the point shot from Chartier past Saints (backup) goaltender Brett Zarowny. Tyson Jost (unassisted @14:42) stole the puck at the blue line and snapped a wrist shot past Zarowny. Shots were 11-4 Penticton.
The Vees would add four more goals in the second to take a 9-0 lead. Dakota Conroy (assists to Miles Gendron and Steen Cooper @3:36) tapped in a backdoor feed to make it 6-0 Penticton. The Vees would then score a pair of power play goals. Tyson Jost (assists to Gabe Bast and Patrick Newell @16:46) blasted a one-timer short side on Zarowny for his second of the game. Gabe Bast (assists to Patrick Sexton and Tyson Jost @18:36) hammered a shot from the right point over Zarowny's glove. A mere 12 seconds after that Matthew Serratore (unassisted @18:48) had his stick in the right place at the right time as he tipped a clearing attempted into the Saints net. Shots favored Penticton 10-7 in the second and 21-11 in the hockey game.
Spruce Grove would outscore the Vees 3-2 in the third. Riley Alfred (assists to Jack Ramsay and Gabe Bast @0:17) on the rebound would score his second of the night to make it 10-0. Just over a minute later Brett Zarowny attempted to make a save and went down with an injury. Lukas Biensch (assist to Macklin Pichonsky @8:34) banged away at the puck and would stuff it past Vees (starting) goaltender Hunter Miska. Austin Hunter (assists to Conner Lukan and Carson Samoridny @14:29) poked the loose puck behind Miska to make it 10-2. On the power play, the Saints would find the back of the net again. Carson Samoridny (assists to Isaac Farrah and Jordan Thomas @18:02) wristed a shot from the left faceoff circle five-hole on Miska. Just 40 seconds later Penticton would finish off the scoring. Tyson Jost (assists to Mike Lee and Gabe Bast @18:42) completed the hat trick by tipping in the point shot from Lee beating Murray. Shots favored Spruce Grove 17-11 in the third but were 32-28 for the Vees overall.
Spruce Grove will take on the Melfort Mustangs on Monday night.
Portage Terriers (MJHL) vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL)
Two third period goals powered the Oil Barons to a 3-1 victory over the MJHL's Portage Terriers.
Neither team would find the back of the net in the opening frame. Shots were 11-6 Fort McMurray.
The two teams would exchange power play goals in the second. Landon Welykholowa (assists to Adam Durkee and Zach Wittenberg @9:52) hammered a one-timer past Terriers (starting) goaltender Justin Laforest. Landon Peel (assists to Brad Bowles and Zack Waldvogel @13:29) blasted a shot from the op of the point past Oil Barons (starting) goaltender Zach Fortin. Shots favored Portage 12-8 in the second but were 19-18 Fort McMurray in the hockey game.
The Oil Barons would score twice in the third to earn a 3-1 win over the Terriers. Isaac Ceh (assists to Logan Franz and Zach McNeill @4:28) wristed a centering pass from Franz over the glove of Laforest. Trent Lofthouse (assist to Austin Holmes @19:47) flicked the puck into the empty net. Shots favored te Terriers 11-9 in the third and 29-28 overall.
Fort McMurray will take on Penticton Sunday night.
Story by Chris Colwell
@Cjcolwell