Tristan Petersen had a goal and assisted on the eventual game-winning goal in the first period as the Penticton Vees downed the Cranbrook Bucks 5-2 to move within three points of clinching the BCHL's Boileau Memorial Trophy on Friday, March 22.
The trophy is awarded annually to the league's regular-season champion. Penticton, which extended its win streak to five games, sits four points ahead of the second-place Brooks Bandits with three games left to play.
Luke Posthumus, Brock Reinhart, Simon Meier and Caton Ryan also scored for the Vees (39-7-5-0) and Will Ingemann made 19 saves.
“I was proud of our team’s effort," said Vees assistant coach Matthew Vanen Berg. "Right from this morning and into the game they had the right attitude, demeanour about them. You could see the buy-in from our group and most importantly they executed when it mattered."
Matthew Gilmore and Rasmus Svartström scored for Cranbrook (29-20-2-0). Jaden Cholette stopped 21 shots for the Bucks.
After a scoreless first period, the Vees scored three consecutive markers in the middle frame, starting with Posthumus at 2:29 of the period.
Reinhart made it 2-0 at 7:13 before Meier scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal six seconds later.
The Bucks got their goals late in the second and midway through the third, respectively, to make it 3-2.
Petersen added an insurance marker at 15:41 of the final frame before Ryan scored an empty-net marker to put a wrap on Penticton's 39th victory of the campaign.
Game notes
The line of Meier, Petersen and Ryden Evers combined for six points in the win.
Five different players scored for the Vees, including Posthumus, who was celebrating his 20th birthday.
With his 19 saves, Ingemann matched his win total from last season (22).
Up next
The Vees battle the Okotoks Oilers in Alberta on Saturday night, March 22. (21-27-3-0)
It marks Penticton's final road game of the regular season.
