Jan. 17, 2016 9:00 a.m.
The Penticton Vees spotted the Powell River Kings a 3-1 lead they failed to build on and protect.
The Vees scored four unanswered goals in the final two periods en route to a 5-3 win at the South Okanagan Events Centre Saturday night in front of 2,354 fans.
Defenceman Colton Poolman sparked the comeback with his shot from the point in the second period that beat Stefan Wornig at 13:09. Easton Brodzinski, the game’s first star, tied the game on a two-on-zero rush with Nicolas Jones. Owen Sillinger, the game’s second star, was credited with the assist and assisted on the Vees’ final two goals scored by Brodzinski, who now has 25, and Jones, 12. Sillinger finished with three assists.
Brodzinski gave the Vees a 4-3 lead at 11:35 of the third following a face-off win as he ripped a shot past Wornig’s blocker side. Wornig finished with 35 saves, while Anthony Brodeur had a 20-save performance.
The Kings built their lead with the help of two early power-play goals. The Vees went zero-for-four on the man advantage.
The Vees were without captain Tyson Jost, who missed his third straight game with an upper body injury, as well as Demico Hannoun, Mitch Brooks, Desi Burgart and defencemen Gabe Bast and Griffin Mendel, who has been visiting schools over the weekend.
On Friday, the Vees defeated Merritt 6-2. Scott Conway scored the winner, while Taylor Ward had two goals and an assist and affiliate player Liam Lytton had three assists.
The Vees are now 37-5-0-1, while Powell River is 23-18-2-0.
In other BCHL action from Saturday, Brody Claeys stopped 34 shots for his first BCHL shutout and Chris Schutz scored twice for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in a 5-0 win over the visiting Cowichan Valley Capitals. Nathan Dingmann’s goal just 56 seconds into the game proved to be all the offensive support Claeys would need. Schutz added on during a first-period man advantage and another at even strength 39 seconds into the second. Rhett Willcox scored on the power play in the middle frame as well and Eric Margo added the final tally early in the third.
Mitch Lipon’s power-play goal in the second period was the winner for the Merritt Centennials in a 5-2 road win over the Wenatchee Wild. Brett Jewell and Michael Faulkner put the Cents ahead in the first and after Troy Conzo scored shorthanded to get the Wild on the board in the second, Lipon followed up just over a minute later. Tyler Ward gave Merritt a three-goal cushion, then Brandon Puricelli got the Wild back within a pair until Nick Jermain’s empty-netter sealed the deal.
Yanni Kaldis’ goal two minutes into overtime delivered a 4-3 road win for the Nanaimo Clippers over the Langley Rivermen. Nanaimo went up two on goals by Nolan Aibel and Charley Borek, but Langley replied with goals from Max Kaufman and Matty Saharchuk in the second. After Matt Hoover put the Clips ahead late in the second, Adam Sinclair forced OT with a goal early in the third, setting the stage for Kaldis in OT.
Jake Harrison’s double-OT goal clinched a 2-1 road win for the West Kelowna Warriors over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Jonathan Desbien’s opening tally at 11:39 of the first was the only goal until Ross Heidt tied it for the Silverbacks at 10:07 of the third. Matthew Greenfield took the game’s first star honours making 43 saves for the win. Brandon Kegler stopped 30 shots for Salmon Arm.