Township of Langley, BC (Friday, November 20, 2015) – The Penticton Vees, Canada’s number one ranked CJHL team, took an impressive 23 game winning streak to the Langley Events Centre on Friday night. For the Rivermen, they were beginning five game home stand and were looking to get back on track having just one win in their last six games. Bo Didur started in net for the Rivermen, while Zachary Driscoll went in goal for the Vees.
After a solid opening 10 minutes of hockey, the Rivermen were rewarded for their efforts with a goal from Zac Masson at the 10:33 mark. Masson was able to find his own rebound on a wraparound chance and buried it past a sliding Zachary Driscoll. Justin Fregona had the only assist on Masson’s third goal of the season. With less than two minutes to play, BCHL leading point getter Tyson Jost got the Vees on the board with a power play goal to send the game tied at 1-1 going into the second period. The Rivermen held the shot lead 11-4 after 20 minutes.
Penticton made it a 2-1 game at 7:39 with a goal from Scott Conway, who fired a perfect shot behind Didur from the slot area. Jost earned the only helper on the tally. The Vees lead did not last long though, as Dominic Franco knotted the game at 2-2 with a power play goal at the 9:05 mark. Franco was parked in front of the net and took a perfect pass from Fregona from the left wing and tapped it over the head of Driscoll for his ninth goal of the year. Matthew Graham had the other assist to extend his point streak to six games. The game remained tied after two periods. Penticton fired 15 shots toward Didur in the frame, while Langley put 9 shots on Driscoll.
In the third period, the game was deadlocked right until the very end. However, on a late Langley power play, Max Kaufman sent the crowd into a frenzy as he put away a loose rebound near the front of the net to give his team the lead with 1:20 to play. Graham had the only assist on the go ahead marker. With 36 seconds left, Torrin White sealed the win with an empty net goal from Justin Szeto.
The Vees remarkable 23 game winning streak finally came to an end in what was an outstanding game from start to finish. It was only the second loss Penticton has suffered all season. With the victory, the Rivermen are now 14-11-0-0 for 28 points and remain third place in the Mainland Division. They will host the Trail Smoke Eaters on Saturday night at 6:00pm.
NOTES: Shots on Goal: LAN 30, PEN 29. Power play: LAN 2/5, PEN 1/3. Three Stars: 1st: LAN Justin Fregona, 2nd: PEN Tyson Jost, 3rd: LAN Bo Didur.
