Vees lock final 20 minutes, take Game 1 of Finals

Press Release

Known most for their impressive offensive output this season, the Penticton Vees showed they can grind the opposition attack to a halt when need be. They didn't permit a goal in the final 36 minutes to earn a 3-1 win in Game 1 of the Fred Page Cup Finals.

Joey Benik and Logan Johnston scored two goals in 2:03 of the first period to give the Vees all the goals they'd need. 1st Star Travis St. Denis scored the final Vees goal early in the second.

Powell River's Daniel Schuler got the lone Kings goal 20 seconds after St. Denis' but it was the only shot to beat Chad Katunar on the night. The netminder mde 42 saves to earn 2nd Star.

The Kings held an edge in shots of 43-28 for the game but, as he has done for most of the playoffs, Katunar was there to make the save and rebounds were hard to come by for Kings forwards.

Penticton scored the only power-play goal of the game, Johnston's marker at 11:37 of the first. Powell River was 0-2 in that department on the night and are now just 5-39 in the playoffs with the man advantage.

A crowd of 3,004 took in the game at South Okanagan Events Centre. Game 2 is set for Saturday night at 7 p.m.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)