The Penticton Vees answered a late Vancouver Giants lead, then Graham Jones finished the comeback in overtime. His second goal of the night gave Penticton a 3-2 win after a game that swung from an early Giants strike to a tied third period and a decisive extra frame.
Vancouver opened the scoring through Aresco, who found a loose puck in the crease and lifted it over goaltender AJ Ri. Tyler Deos brought the Vees level with a finish set up by Gavin Cats, but the Giants regained the advantage before the second period ended. Penticton had to keep chasing; it found the equalizer in the third and carried that response into overtime.
How the Game Played Out
The Giants struck first on a play that began with a scramble in front. After Penticton’s Jones had tried to make something happen behind the Vancouver net, the Giants broke the other way with numbers. A pass found the trailer, and Aresco gathered the loose puck in the crease to make it 1-0. Ri made saves during the early exchanges, including on a rebound chance, but Vancouver had the opening goal.
Penticton’s reply came on a well-worked attack. Jackson Schneider dropped the puck to Cats, who dodged a check and tried to center it. Deos slid into the play and scored, tying the game 1-1. The Vees generated more pressure around the net, with Cats creating another chance and shots testing Giants goaltender Brics, but Vancouver found a way back in front. Matis Preston tapped in at the back door after a crisp transition entry, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead.
That advantage held through the second period. The period-by-period score was 1-1 in the first and 1-0 Vancouver in the second, leaving Penticton to chase the game in the third. The Vees drew level on a quick shot through traffic that produced a deflection and a goal. The sequence kept the game alive and sent the teams into overtime tied 2-2.
In the extra period, Jones delivered the finish. After Preston carried the puck and moved it along the wall, Jones drove toward the net, took it to the forehand and scored. It was his second goal of the night and the decisive one in Penticton’s 3-2 win. The final period breakdown recorded the Vees’ overtime goal and no Vancouver score in the extra frame.
What the Result Means
For Penticton, the result was a comeback built in stages: answer the opener, respond again after Vancouver moved ahead, and then turn the tied game into a win in overtime. Jones supplied the finishing touch, while Deos’ equalizer and the later third-period goal ensured the Vees had a chance to settle it in the extra period.
The Giants had twice found a way to move in front, with Aresco’s opportunistic opening goal and Preston’s back-door finish providing their scoring. But they could not protect the second lead through the third period, and Jones’ overtime finish decided the game. The available result establishes a 3-2 Vees win; it does not provide standings details or either club’s wider season record. Their next games will offer the first chance to see how each side builds on this result.
Watch the Highlights
The WHL highlight reel captures the scoring swings, the late equalizer and Jones’ overtime finish. Watch the video above for the key plays from Vancouver’s early lead through Penticton’s decisive push.
Final Score: Penticton Vees 3, Vancouver Giants 2 (OT).
Final Score: Penticton Vees 3, Vancouver Giants 2.
Source: WHL Highlights transcript + Highlightly match data