Frustrated fans toss debris on ice at WHL playoff game in Prince George

The Penticton Vees scored three power-play goals in the final minutes of regulation en route to a 5-2 win over the Prince George Cougars in Game 4 of the WHL playoffs’ second round on April 15.

Some fans at the CN Centre threw debris on the ice in frustration with the seven called penalties on Prince George late in the third period, including a five-minute checking-to-the-head major at 14:10 that set up Nolan Stevenson’s game-winning goal.

The series is now tied 2-2, with Game 5 set for Friday, April 17, at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC).

Wednesday night’s tilt was delayed multiple times late in the third period due to debris, including cans, being thrown onto the ice.

Prince George’s Corbin Vaughan was assessed a game misconduct after his checking-to-the-head penalty on Vees forward Ryden Evers. The Cougars were also handed two 10-minute misconducts and a bench minor shortly after.

The penalty-filled final frame came after Tampa Bay Lightning prospect and Cougars forward Aiden Foster received a game misconduct in the second period. Foster took an elbowing major at 5:43, sending the Vees to a five-minute power play.

The road team has won each game in the best-of-seven series.

Vees forward Louis Wehmann opened the scoring at 8:21 of the first period.

Prince George responded later in the frame with two goals in 12 seconds as Kooper Gizowski and Lee Shurgot scored in succession.

Ryden Evers tied it for Penticton at 6:24 of the second, sending the game deadlocked 2-2 heading into the third period.

The Vees spent most of the final five minutes on a 5-on-3 man advantage amid seven Prince George penalties.

Stevenson scored the eventual winner at 15:44, before Ethan Weber and Brady Birnie added insurance markers to make it 5-2.

San Jose Sharks first-round pick Joshua Ravensbergen made 35 saves for the Cougars. His counterpart, Vees netminder Andrew Reyelts, stopped 27 shots.

After Game 5 in Penticton on Friday, the series will shift to Prince George for a sixth contest on Sunday, April 19.

Game 7, if necessary, will be at the SOEC on Tuesday, April 21.