Game Preview: GM #22 Vees vs. Spruce Kings
Photo: Jack Murray
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: SOEC, Penticton
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
Oct. 11 Prince George 2 at Penticton 5
Nov. 17 Prince George 1 at Penticton 8
Dec. 1 Prince George at Penticton, 7:00 pm PST
Jan. 5 Penticton at Prince George, 7:00 pm PST
Jan. 6 Penticton at Prince George, 6:00 pm PST
Feb. 10 Prince George at Penticton, 6:00 pm PST
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
Record : GP 21 16-1-2-2 (1st, Interior)
Last Game: 5-0 win vs. Trail (Nov. 29)
Home: 10-0-0-0
Away: 6-1-2-2
GF: 95
GA: 49
Power Play: 24/73 32.9% (1)
Penalty Kill: 21/57 71.9% (15)
Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (12-12-24)
The Penticton Vees look for back-to-back wins as they host the Prince George Spruce Kings. The Vees got back in the win column on Wednesday with their 5-0 shutout of Trail.
It was two weeks ago the Vees beat the Spruce Kings 8-1 at the SOEC, back on November 18. Thomas Pichette had four points (2G, 2A) in that win, and he has six points in two games against PG this season. Tonight, is the third of five games against the Spruce Kings. The Vees also beat Prince George 5-2 on October 11. After tonight, these two teams meet again in January, when the Vees head north for a doubleheader January 5-6.
The Vees are 9-0 at the SOEC and their consecutive home win streak now sits at 51 games. Penticton is 6-2 in their last eight home games against the Spruce Kings.
Goaltender Will Ingemann was named the BCHL Third Star of the Month, for the month of November, the league announced Friday. In five games, Ingemann posted a 4-0-0-1 record, 1.16 goals-against average, .952 save percentage, and one shutout.
The BCHL also launched a fan vote to select the remaining seven players for each roster for the BCHL All-Star Tournament in January. Yesterday, the initial rosters for the All-Star Weekend were announced, which included Callum Arnott and Will Ingemann. Ryan MacPherson is the Vees nominee for the BCHL fan vote. Click here to submit your vote.
Prince George Spruce Kings
GM: Mike Hawes
Head Coach: Alex Evin
2023-24 : GP 21 7-11-3-0 (7th, Interior)
Last Game: 5-4 win vs. Langley (Nov. 29)
Home: 6-3-2-0
Away: 1-8-1-0
GF: 57
GA: 92
Power Play: 20/90 22.2% (9)
Penalty Kill: 16/79 79.7% (6)
Scoring Leader: Kilian McGregor-Bennett
The Spruce Kings have won back-to-back games and are coming off an epic 5-4 overtime win against the Langley Rivermen on Wednesday.
Prince George was done 4-1 after 40 minutes, before JR Perdion, Luas Veilleux, and Kai Greaves scored in the final frame. Skogen Schrott was the overtime hero, as completed the comeback with his goal 3:52 into the extra frame.
That dramatic win is on the heels of their 3-2 victory over the Coastal Conference-leading Surrey Eagles last Saturday. PG has won back-to-back games for the first time since October 25.
The Spruce Kings have lost their last five games at the SOEC, dating back to March 4th, 2022. Their last win in Penticton was on Feb 19th, 2022, when they earned a 3-2 victory.