The Shaw BCHL Playoffs are officially up and running as game one between the Penticton Vees and the West Kelowna Warriors kicked off the postseason schedule tonight.
It was the Vees who drew first blood in the series on the strength of a hat trick from Tyler Ho with all three goals coming while shorthanded, powering his team to a convincing 7-1 win.
The eighth-seeded Warriors started off strong with a breakaway goal from BCHL All-Rookie John Evans less than five minutes into the game, but Penticton responded with goals from Liam Malmquist and Ho to make it 2-1 for the home team after one.
Evan McIntyre, Ho and Jay O’Brien kept pouring it on for the Vees in the second period, increasing their lead to 5-1 heading to the third period and it was more of the same in the final frame with Danny Weight scoring less than two minutes in, then Ho completing the shorthanded hat trick late in the period to close out the game.
Penticton goalie Yaniv Perets knocked aside 22 of the 23 shots he faced and Ho was named first star of the game for his offensive outburst.
Game 2 goes tomorrow night back in Penticton.
