Penticton Vees heading to round 2 of the WHL playoffs after 6-3 win over Seattle Thunderbirds

Vees dominate Thunderbirds

Photo: WHL/Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees are headed to round 2 of the WHL playoffs

The Penticton Vees are off to the second round of the WHL playoffs after taking down the Seattle Thunderbirds in game five of the first round.

Energy was high at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday night, with more than 4,200 fans cheering as the Vees took the game 6-3.

The first goal came off the stick of Ryden Evers early in the first period, when he grabbed a rebound shot and sank it in the net for the Vees.

The Thunderbirds followed that up with a power-play goal by Cameron Schmidt shortly after to make it 1-1.

Penticton wasn’t done with the scoring in the first period, with a backhand shot from Louie Wehmann after his solo run down the ice, beating the defencemen to make it 2-1.

Nearing halfway through the second, the Vees captain, Nolan Stevenson, would add another goal onto the scoreboard, getting past the Seattle goaltender on the short side glove.

Then, Penticton would take advantage of a power play, with Wehmann striking again at the end of the second.

In the third period, Jacob Kvasnicka took on a penalty shot and slowly came at the Thunderbirds’ net, deeking out the goaltender to put Penticton up 5-1.

Under a minute later, Seattle added its second goal from Tai Riley to put the away team back within three.

The Thunderbirds would pull their goaltender for the last six minutes of the third, earning them another goal from Coster Dunn to make it 5-3.

The Vees added another goal, an empty netter from Kvasnicka in the final few minutes of the third to make the final score 6-3.

Penticton will have to wait to see who they play in the second round, after taking the series 4-1.