Game Preview: GM #21 Vees vs. Smoke Eaters

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Game Time: 6:30 pm

Location: South Okanagan Events Centre, Penticton

Radio: Bounce 800 AM

Webcast: Flo Hockey 

Season Series

Oct. 6^th Trail 3 at Penticton 4 OT

Oct. 7^th Penticton 3 at Trail 4 OT

Oct. 14^th Penticton 6 at Trail 3

Nov. 11^th Trail 1 at Penticton 6

Nov. 29^th Trail at Penticton, 6:30 pm

Feb. 25^th Penticton at Trail, 3:00 pm

Mar. 29^th Trail at Penticton, 7:00 pm

Penticton Vees

GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson

Record : GP 20 15-1-2-2 34 PTS (1^st, Interior)

Last Game: 2-1 SOL at Vernon (Nov. 25^th)

Home: 9-0-0-0

Away: 6-1-2-2

GF: 90

GA: 49

Power Play: 23/71 32.4% (1^st)

Penalty Kill:  16/55 70.9% (16^th)

Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (11-12-23)

The Vees are back home, looking to jump back in the win column, after their 2-1 shootout loss in Vernon last Saturday. Penticton knows how to bounce back, as they are 4-0-0-0 coming off a loss and they have outscored the opposition 21-6 in those four games.

The shootout loss in Vernon did extended the Vees point streak to 19 games (15-0-2-0) which dates back to September 23^rd. They have lost just once in regulation in 20 games this season. Grabbing points is so valuable come the end of the regular season when teams are jockeying for playoff positioning.

Penticton is also in the middle of a record-breaking 50-game home win streak that dates back to April 1, 2022. It’s been 607 days and counting since the Vees last lost at home. Ironically, the streak started with a win over Trail in Game Two of their first round BCHL Playoff series.

The Vees are 3-0-1-0 in four games against the Smoke Eaters in four game this season. Forward Simon Meier leads the Vees with seven points (1G, 6A) in four games against Trail. Penticton is 11-1-2-1 versus the Interior.

Trail Smoke Eaters

GM & Head Coach: Tim Fragle

2023-24 : GP 22 9-8-5-0 23 PTS (5^th, Interior)

Last Game: 5-4 OTL at Merritt (Nov. 25^th)

Home: 6-3-2-0

Away: 3-5-3-0

GF: 76

GA: 90

Power Play: 15/81 18.5% (15^th)

Penalty Kill: 21/74 71.6% (15^th)

Scoring Leader: Ridge Dawson (9-9-18)

Trail comes into tonight’s game on a three-game point streak. The Smoke Eaters split two overtime games last weekend. Trail won 3-2 in on Friday in Vernon but lost 5-4 in three-on-three in Merritt on Saturday. Their point streak stared with their 7-3 win over Cowichan Valley on November 18^th.

The Smoke Eaters are 2-1-2-0 in their last five games and come into tonight’s game sitting fifth in the Interior, three points back of fourth-place West Kelowna. Trail has split their last six road games, going 2-2-2-0.

Defenceman Adam Barone has six assists in his last four games, as he enters tonight’s game with a BCHL-best four-game assist streak.

Coats for Kids

Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used kid’s winter outerwear to the game, as RE/MAX Penticton Realty is collecting donations for BGC Okanagan and South Okanagan Women in Need Society. Every fan that brings a donation, will be entered to win a Vees signed jersey.