Game Recap: Sharky Nowek earns first career win, Vees beat Saints 3-1

Photo: Alexander Patton / Spruce Grove Saints

Spruce Grove, AB – Sharky Nowek picked up his first career win Sunday, as the Penticton Vees beat the Spruce Grove Saints, 3-1 at Grant Fuhr Arena in Central Alberta.

18-year-old goaltender Sharky Nowek, who made his season debut Sunday, stopped 34 of 35 shots in the Vees net and was named the game’s first star. The Penticton product came agonizingly close to his first career shutout, as the Saints scored their only goal with just two and a half minutes in regulation. Sunday was Nowek’s second career start and first since March 16^th of last season.

The win improved the Vees record to 9-2-0-0 as they moved up to second place in the Interior Conference. Penticton leap frogged idle Cranbrook and Salmon Arm in the standings.

Ben Merrill scored twice in Sunday’s win, as the Montreal Canadiens draft pick scored for the first time in nearly a month. Merrill’s two goal outing was the first time he had scored since the Vees’ second game of the season back on September 21st.

Conyr Hellyer sealed the win with an empty net goal inside the final half minute of regulation. With that goal, the Vees’ captain extended his goal scoring streak to three games.

Merrill opened the scoring at 13:42 of the first period, as his second of the season put Penticton up 1-0. Anselmo Rego intercepted the puck at the Saints’ blueline, before dropping to Merrill, who scored stick side.

The rookie forward from Boston doubled the Vees lead in the second, as he picked up his third of the season 7:31. Casey Brown had his shot stopped off the rush, but the rebound kicked out front and Merrill was there to cash in after he crashed the crease. His third of the season and second of the game put Penticton up 2-0.

The second was the Vees’ best period on Sunday, as they peppered the Saints with 20 shots; the second most shots they have recorded in the second period this season.

It stayed 2-0 for Penticton up until the final two and half minutes of regulation. Spruce Grove’s Matheson Mason spoiled Nowek’s shutout bid with his goal at 17:24. Mason’s goal came after the Saints had pulled their goalie Ryan De Kok.

Hellyer stamped out any further comeback attempt by Spruce Grove with his empty net goal at 19:40. Hellyer managed to score from deep inside his own zone.

GAME NOTES

Hellyer now has points in six-straight games (4G, 10A), as he sits third in team scoring with 11 points. He has four goals in his last three games. Ryan Evers had his five-game point streak come to an end in the win. The Burnaby, BC, product had seven points (2G, 5A) in his previous five games. The Vees are now 2-0 against Spruce Grove, and the two teams don’t meet again until February 28^th, in Penticton.

GAME STATS

Shots: Vees- 35 Saints- 35

Scoring: Ben Merrill (2), Conyr Hellyer

Goaltending: Sharky Nowek, 60:00 34/35

Vees Power-Play: 0/1

Vees Penalty-Kill: 2/2

Three Stars:

1. Sharky Nowek
2. Ryan De Kok
3. Ben Merrill

Up Next: The Vees (9-2-0-0) head to the West Kootenays to face the Trail Smoke Eaters (6-4-1-1) on Friday, October 25^th, at 7:00 pm. Fans can watch the game on FloHockey TV, or they can listen to Bounce 800 AM.