The North Okanagan Knights avoided a complete shut out in Penticton over the weekend.

The visiting hockey team lost 4-3 to the Posse Saturday, Oct. 21.

But the real stinger came earlier when goalie Braxton Tessman was airing out his gear at the Ramada Hotel before the big game.

A few players from the team watched a man enter the property of the hotel and steal pieces of the goalie gear and then walk away with it towards Riverside Drive.

The U18 players followed the man at a distance to keep an eye on him and eventually came across an officer in the area.

鈥淲e waved down an officer who immediately helped us catch the guy. It was the craziest thing,鈥� said Tessman.

Tessman and his team were thankful for the officer鈥檚 quick response in being able to retrieve the gear back, as the team was in town for a series of games over the weekend.

鈥淣o one wants to travel to a community and become a victim of theft, especially that of a youth, who relies on the sporting gear to remain active and do something they love,鈥� said Const. Kelly Brett. 鈥淲e are thankful our officer was the in the area at the time and was able to act quickly for Braxton and his teammates.鈥�

The 31-year-old Penticton man involved in the incident was arrested and later released from custody.

It鈥檚 not known if the man is facing any charges.

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