Sharky Nowek made 34 saves in his season debut as the Penticton Vees beat the Spruce Grove Saints 3-1 on Sunday, Oct. 20, in Alberta.
Nowek, an 18-year-old Penticton-born goaltender, recorded his first career win and was named the game's first star. The local product was also on the brink of recording his first shutout before Spruce Grove scored with less than three minutes left in the final frame.
The Vees' win, which marked Nowek's second career start and first since March 16, comes after the club lost 6-4 to the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Friday, Oct. 19.
Penticton owns a 9-2-0-0 record this season and sits second in the Interior Conference, two points behind the Brooks Bandits (10-0-0-0).
Montreal Canadiens draft pick Ben Merrill scored twice for the Vees in last Sunday's win. The Hingham, Massachusetts product was joined by captain Conyr Hellyer as the other Penticton goal scorer.
Hellyer has now scored in three straight games, and recorded and four points in two games over the weekend.
Eli McKamey, Simon Meier, Nolan Stevenson and Hellyer found the back of the net for Penticton in its 6-4 loss last Saturday. Goaltenders Will Ingemann and Andrew Ness split time in the crease, making a combined 25 saves.
Penticton visits the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday, Oct. 25, before returning home on Saturday night, Oct. 26, to host the Vernon Vipers at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
