Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
Penticton Vees – 4
Nanaimo Clippers – 1
Luc Wilson had a three-point night, Bradley Nadeau had a goal and an assist and Kaeden Lane stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced as the Penticton Vees drew first blood in the Fred Page Cup Finals, defeating the Nanaimo Clippers 4-1 in Game 1.
Casey McDonald scored the first goal of the finals, putting the Vees up 1-0 on a deflection with just under five minutes to go in the opening stanza. Before the end of the period, Penticton defenceman Ryan Hopkins blasted a point shot by Clippers goalie Cooper Black on the power play to make it 2-0 after one.
Kai Daniells scored for Nanaimo just eight seconds into the middle frame when Vees goalie Kaeden Lane got an unlucky bounce behind the net and the puck ended up in the slot, right on the stick the oncoming Clippers forward. Later on in the period, it was Nanaimo’s turn to receive an unlucky bounce when Wilson’s pass attempt on the rush deflected off the Clippers defenceman and into the net to reestablish the two-goal lead at intermission.
Bradley Nadeau finished off the scoring midway through the third period with his brother Josh providing the assist to make it a 4-1 final.
Penticton outshot Nanaimo 40-20 in this contest, including 15-3 in the second period alone. The Clippers have a chance to bounce back and even up the series in Game 2 tomorrow night in Penticton.
