Photo credits: Tami Quan (Evans), Garrett James Photography (Nieuwendyk)
Penticton Vees – 8
West Kelowna Warriors – 1
The Penticton Vees exploded for six goals in the second period to blow the game open and eventually beat the West Kelowna Warriors 8-1 in Game 1 of the Interior Conference Finals.
Jackson Nieuwendyk scored twice in the middle frame, while Luc Wilson, Thomas Pichette, Bradley Nadeau and Josh Nadeau each scored once. John Evans had the lone goal for West Kelowna while shorthanded and it was 6-1 after two. Pichette scored his second in the final frame and Nieuwendyk added another to record the hat trick, and score his second shorthanded goal of the game, to make it an 8-1 final.
Kaeden Lane made 21 saves to get the win.
The Warriors will look to regroup in Game 2 tomorrow night in Penticton.
Nanaimo Clippers – 4
Langley Rivermen – 0
Sean Donaldson scored two goals and Cooper Black continued his incredible postseason with his second straight shutout as the Nanaimo Clippers blanked the Langley Rivermen 4-0 in Game 1 of the Coastal Conference Final.
Donaldson opened the scoring late in the first period and, after a scoreless second, Brody Waters doubled the Clippers lead 36 seconds into the third. Donaldson potted his second of the game and ninth of the playoffs less than two minutes later before Kai Daniells scored into an empty net as the Rivermen were pressing for a goal.
With the shutout, Black has now let in just one goal in his last three games. Him and Donaldson continue to be the catalyst for the Clippers current unbeaten run through the playoffs as they improve their postseason record to a perfect 9-0.
