The Penticton Vees picked up a 4-2 victory over the rival Kelowna Rockets on Friday night at the SOEC in their home opener. 

The Vees move to 2-1-0-0 on the season and have won two straight games. 

It was the Vees who struck first on Friday night as Graham Jones, playing in his first WHL game, found Gavin Katz on the powerplay who one-timed the puck past the Rockets goaltender to make it 1-0. 

That was the score after 20 minutes. 

The Rockets answered with two in the second as 2026 first-overall pick Madden Daneault struck for his first WHL goal before Cole Braunshausen tucked one under the crossbar to make it 2-1. 

Penticton would answer before the period wrapped up as Roberts Naudins gloved down a puck on top of the crease and knocked home his first WHL goal to make it 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. 

The Vees took over in the third with Noel Pakarinen hammering home his first in the Western League on the powerplay to make it 3-2 and then Gavin Katz put a bow on the night with his second of the night, third of the season, to make the final 4-2. 

 

GAME STATS

Shots:

Vees- 30

Rockets- 23

 

Scoring:

Vees- Gavin Kats (2), Roberts Naudins, Noel Pakarinen, 

Rockets- Madden Danault, Cole Braunshausen

 

Power Plays:

Vees- 2/4

Rockets- 0/4

 

Goaltending:

Vees- AJ Reyelts – 21/23

Rockets- Josh Banini – 26/30

 

Up Next: The Vees are in Kelowna tomorrow night for the second half of their back-to-back. Puck drop is 6:00PM.