Monday, April 3, 2017

Vees Win BCHL Ruling:

This is posted on the Morning Star website:

Vees win BCHL ruling

Kevin Mitchell Mon Apr 3rd, 2017

The Penticton Vees will have their best defenceman in tonight’s lineup after all.

The B.C. Hockey League discipline committee has rescinded a major check-from-behind penalty assessed to Gabe Bast in Penticton’s 4-2 win in Game of the Interior Division final series before 3,007 fans Saturday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Bast was ejected and given a major after taking Viper alternate captain Jagger Williamson into the end boards at 13:25 of the second period. Williamson stayed down for almost a minute and then immediately went to the dressing room.

“I think he’s alright, I think he’ll be good,” said Viper d-man Michael Ufberg, moments after the game. “It was a pretty cheap hit. It’s gonna happen, it’s a hockey game. Jags took it pretty well. He tried to come back for one shift, but couldn’t go. I think he’ll be alright for Monday; he’s a warrior.”

As of late Monday afternoon, the Vipers had not received an explanation from the league on why they reversed the official’s original call which normally carries a two-game suspension. Vernon head coach/GM Mark Ferner said he was frustrated by the BCHL’s decision.

The Vees sent a video of the hit to the league office and they let Penticton head coach/GM Fred Harbinson know Sunday they had reversed the penalty.

Vernon d-man Cameron Trott scored 30 seconds into Bast’s penalty to level the score at 2-2.

Bast, a 20-year-old North Dakota commit, missed most of the season with injury. He racked up eight points and 27 penalty minutes in 14 games. The Red Deer product has three goals and nine points in nine playoff tilts.

Game 3 in the series goes tonight at 7 at Kal Tire Place. Students and children are urged to get in line early for free tickets, courtesy of Hytec, KISS-FM and The Vernon Morning Star.

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