Recap: Vees edge Crusaders in annual Teddy & Toque Toss game
Photo: Cherie Morgan
The Penticton Vees earned their fifth-straight win Friday night, beating the Sherwood Park Crusaders 3-2, in front of a season-high 3,658 fans at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
It was the Vees’ annual “Teddy & Toque Toss,” and it was a record turnout for the event. Fans didn’t have to wait long to throw their stuffed toys, as Nolan Stevenson scored on the Vees’ first shot, just 59 seconds into the game. The previous two seasons, the Vees didn’t score their “Teddy Goal” until the third period.
Penticton did not have to wait long to let the Teddy Bears fly!
@Fraser_Vees #BCHL | @PentictonVees pic.twitter.com/i3kyXGwV4f
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) December 7, 2024
Nolan Stevenson let a shot go from the blueline that found its way through traffic and past Crusaders’ goaltender James Venne. Great work from forward Louie Wehmann to beat out an icing call led to him setting up Stevenson at the point for the much anticipated goal. It was an eerily similar scene to Game 7 of the Interior Conference Final last season when Stevenson scored the game-winner against Salmon Arm.
Stevenson also had an assist in the win for a two point effort. Ryden Evers and Matthew Cataldo also scored for Penticton. Evers scored in the first period, as the Vees led 2-1 after 20 minutes. Cataldo scored what turned out to be the game-winner early in the third period.
Ethan Buenaventura earned his fourth win in fourth start, as the 20-year-old was excellent in the Vees’ crease, as he stopped 23 of 25 shots.
Sherwood Park was not fazed by the delay of the cleanup after the Vees’ Teddy goal, as they tied the game thanks to newly acquired Alexander Dimitriadis. Dimitriadis, recently acquired from Blackfalds, scored his first as a Crusader and fifth of the season at 8:04 that tied it 1-1.
Evers restored the Vees lead on the power play late in the first period, taking a pass from Stevenson off a faceoff and quickly walked down the win and snapped the puck short side for his 12th of the season at 14:35. That goal came just seven seconds into the power play. The Vees took that 2-1 lead all the way to the third period.
Cataldo gave Penticton a much-needed insurance marker early in third period, as he scored six minutes into the final frame. Cataldo was outnumbered when he entered the zone but wired a shot from the slot over Venne’s glove. Cataldo’s third goal in two games and sixth of the season.
Sherwood Park’s John Alex Banks made things interesting late, as he scored at 9:35 to make it 3-2. The Crusaders, who have the league’s best power play, got a power play with just over two minutes left, but Penticton managed to kill-off the six-on-four opportunity.
Penticton’s special teams were stellar on Friday, scoring once on two power play, while also shutting down the league’s best power play three times.
The Vees remain atop the BCHL Standings with a 20-6-0-0 record, two points clear of the Brooks Bandits. Penticton improved to 8-1-0-0 at home this season.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 26 Crusaders-25
Scoring: Nolan Stevenson (5). Ryden Evers (12), Matthew Cataldo (6)
Goaltending: Ethan Buenaventura (W) 23/25, 60:00
Vees Power Play: 1/2
Vees Penalty Kill: 3/3
Three Stars:
1) Nolan Stevenson (1G, 1A)
2) Matthew Cataldo (1G, GWG)
3) Ethan Buenaventura (23 Saves)
Attendance: 3,658
Up Next: The Vees (20-6-0-0) have the remainder of the weekend off before they’re set to host the West Kelowna Warriors for the first time this season at the SOEC next Friday night as part of a traditional pre-holiday Home & Away series with the Highway 97 Rivals.