It may be early in the season but the Penticton Vees showed that they're definitely a team to reckon with in the Interior Divsion.
The Trail Smoke Eaters saw that first hand on Friday as the Vees built up a 5-0 lead before Trail broke the shutout in a 5-1 decision.
Trail first home game of the season draw an average size crowd and what they saw was a strong Vees team overpower the Smokies.
Trail's Nicholas Pattey potted the Smokies lone goal with five minutes left in regulation time and too little time left to make an impact.
Prior to that, the Vees controlled much of the action thanks to its overall size and quickness.
Cody DePourcq provided the quickness as he scored twice for the Vees including a stomach-punching tally with six seconds left in the first period.
That gave Penticton a 2-0 first-period lead. Max Coatta sniped his second goal of the game midway through the middle frame to spot the Vees a 3-0 lead with 20 minutes to play.
Ben Dalpe and DePourcq provided the one-two knockout punch with eight minutes left in the third when they scored 15 seconds apart.
It was that kind of night for Trail goaltender Adam Todd who faced a total of 34 shots and a barrage of bodies flying through the crease.
Trail managed 30 shots on goal but only a few of those generated any sustained pressure around the net.
The two teams meet again in Trail on Saturday night.