Saturday, April 28, 2012

Vees win Doyle Cup, headed for Humboldt and a shot at national title

Press Release

For the fourth consecutive year, the BCHL will have a team at the RBC Cup thanks to the Penticton Vees' Game 5 win over the Brooks Bandits that secured the team's first Doyle Cup since 1986.

Joey Benik tallied twice in the first period and completed a hat trick before the midway point of the second as Penticton carved out a 5-1 lead heading into the final frame. Benik's second goal, with just under four minutes to go in the opening frame, proved to be the winner.

Just as in Wednesday's Game 4 win, the Vees' power play was deadly connecting three times on six chances.

For Brooks, Colton Semenok's man-advantage goal early in the second gave the visitors a pulse briefly but Benik's third just under eight minutes later restored the Vees three-goal lead, brought a flurry of hats to the ice and chased Jan Obernesser from the Bandits net in favour of Michael Fredrick.

Steven Fogarty scored twice for the Vees, both goals were on the man advantage, and his second tally late in the middle frame all but crushed any hope the Bandits had left.

Brooks' Chris Muscoby scored late in the third period, shortly after Bryce Gervais had scored the Penticton's sixth, but the Vees were still able to storm the ice when the final horn sounded in a celebratory pile on goaltender Michael Garteig in the right-wing corner of their defensive zone.

Garteig made 31 saves in the win and improves to 3-1 in the postseason.

Penticton will be the last team to have its name engraved on the Doyle Cup as the four western Junior A leagues will play in the inaugural Western Canada Cup starting next year.

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

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