Game Recap: Bandits hand Vees their first loss of the season
Photo: Matt Piotrowski Photography
Brooks, AB – The Penticton Vees suffered their first loss of the new season on Friday, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Brooks Bandits at Centennial Regional Arena.
In a matchup of two of the top teams in the BCHL, two undefeated teams, and it was the Bandits who prevailed, as they took the first of four games between the two new rivals.
“Neither team gave up a lot of chances early. We had a couple miscues that ended up in our net. You can’t make mistakes against a team like that, but we got to learn from these types of moments and build on it going forward,” commented Assistant Coach Matthew Vanden Berg post-game.
Penticton (2-1-0-0) will look to earn a weekend split in Alberta, when they take on the Blackfalds Bulldogs Saturday at Eagle Builders Centre.
“Everyone has to do a little bit more tomorrow and dial into our team identity. Hopefully we can respond the right way on Saturday.”
Matthew Cataldo scored the Vees only goal midway through the third period.
REGO CATALDO pic.twitter.com/6VjEjU9ql0
— Penticton Vees (@PentictonVees) September 28, 2024
Will Ingemann started the game for Penticton but was replaced by Andrew Ness in the third period, after he surrendered three goals on 28 shots.
Brooks got the only goal in the first period, shorthanded, as Liam Fitzpatrick put the Bandits ahead with less five minutes left in the opening frame. Fitzpatrick capitalized after the Vees turned the puck over at the blueline on a power play. Fitzpatrick went the other way and scored on a breakaway at 15:47.
After a scoreless second period, the Bandits scored twice in four minutes to pad their lead early in the third. Nick Peluso snuck a shot five-hole on Ingemann to put Brooks up 2-0 at 5:01. Then Defenceman Quinn McCall scored from the point at 8:42 that stretched the home team’s lead to 3-0.
Penticton spoiled the shutout bid when Matthew Cataldo scored his second of the young season at 11:38. Anselmo Rego threw the puck on net and Cataldo tipped it past Bandits’ goaltender Johnny Hicks.
Brooks snuffed out any comeback attempt with a late empty net goal by Park Lalonde in the final seconds of the game.
GAME STATS
Shots: Vees- 21 Bandits- 33
Scoring: Matthew Cataldo
Goaltending: Will Ingemann (L): 48:42, 25/28
Andrew Ness: 11:18, 4/4
Vees Power-Play: 0/3
Vees Penalty-Kill: 4/4
Three Stars:
1) Johnny Hicks
2) Isaac Johnson
3) Nick Peluso
Up Next: The Vees (2-1-0-0) visit the Blackfalds Bulldogs (0-2-0) Saturday, September 28th, at Eagle Builders Centre; puck drop is 5:00 pm PDT. Fans can watch on FloHockey TV, or listen to Bounce 800 AM.