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Kings drop tight checking 3-1 game to Penticton

The Powell River Kings (20-11-1-0) first ever win at the South Okanagan Events Centre will have to wait at least one more year. The Penticton Vees (24-5-1-0) used three unanswered goals to down the Kings 3-1 Saturday night.

The Kings opened the scoring Saturday, the fifth-straight game they had accomplished that feat, when Johan Steen took a pass from Cam Donaldson on the right wing side and fired a shot past an outstretched Matthew Robson.

The lead lasted a little over five minutes before Chris Klack backhanded a shot from right in front of the net past the glove of Brian Wilson to tie the game. The goal trigged an outpouring of teddy bears as it was the Vees teddy bear toss night.

Six minutes later the Vees took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Nicholas Jones carried the puck down the left wing on a two on one rush. He cut to the middle of the ice then dropped the puck off for Grant Cruikshank who rifled a wrist shot over the blocker of Wilson to make it 2-1.

Early in the second period the Vees added to their lead. Just 25 seconds into the frame, Ty Amonte took a breakaway pass from Owen Sillinger and slid the puck five hole on Wilson to extend Penticton’s lead.

Wilson made his finest save of the game in the dying seconds of the period. A shot from the left wing corner by Taylor Ward went off the tip of Wilson’s glove and the rebound was sitting in the crease.

Matt Gosiewski came charging in looking to tap home his first career BCHL goal, but Wilson dove across and got his outstretched arm on the puck to cover it and keep the score 3-1.

The Kings had a glorious opportunity in the opening minutes of the third as they were awarded a five-on-three power play for 1:15. Despite quick puck movement the Kings couldn’t solve Robson

That was the best chance for the Kings in the final frame as they dropped the 3-1 game. The Kings road trip now wraps up Sunday afternoon at the Cominco Arena against the Trail Smoke Eaters (15-14-1-0).

The Kings are 2-0 against Trail this season, but will be without the services of Kyle Betts, Carter Turnbull and Andy Stevens as the three players head off to Leduc, Alberta for the Canada West tryout camp for the World Junior A Challenge.