Game Preview: GM #27 Vees vs. Warriors

Photo: Tami Quan

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Game Time: 7:00 pm PST

Location: SOEC, Penticton

Radio: Bounce 800 AM

Webcast: Flo Hockey

Season Series

Sep. 22 Penticton 3 at West Kelowna 5

Dec. 15 West Kelowna at Penticton, 7:00 pm

Dec. 16 Penticton at West Kelowna, 7:00 pm

Feb. 17 West Kelowna at Penticton, 6:00 pm

Mar. 8 Penticton at West Kelowna, 7:00 pm

Mar.  15 Penticton at West Kelowna, 7:00 pm

Mar. 31 West Kelowna at Penticton, 4:00 pm

Penticton Vees

GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson

Record : GP 26 19-3-2-2 (1^st, Interior)

Last Game: 2-1 loss vs. Salmon Arm (Dec. 9)

Home: 12-1-0-0

Away: 7-2-2-2

GF: 105

GA: 55

Power Play: (28/85) 32.9% 1^st

Penalty Kill: (18/71) 74.6% 14^th

Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (13-15-28)

The Penticton Vees look to put their two-game losing streak behind them, as they open a weekend series with the West Kelowna Warriors at the SOEC.

The Vees suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season last weekend, losing both games to Salmon Arm in a home-and-home series. Penticton also had their 53-game home win streak come to an end last Saturday, with their 2-1 setback to the Silverbacks in their Teddy Bear Toss game. The last time the Vees had lost back-to-back games was on December 9^th and 10^th, 2022.

Tonight, is the second of seven meetings with the Warriors and first since opening night, back of September 22^nd. West Kelowna won that game 5-3 then the Vees proceeded to rattle off a 24-game point streak that ended on December 8^th. The Warriors come into the weekend just four points behind the Vees for top spot in. the Interior Conference.

The Vees offence has hit a bit of dry spell, having scored just five goals over their last four games. That includes a shutout loss last Friday in Salmon Arm. One factor is injuries, as the Vees are missing four forwards in Anselmo Rego, Conyr Hellyer, Billy Renfrew, and Simon Meier. If you exclude Rego, who’s been missing since late October, and look at the three most recent absences, the other three account for 20 goals and 57 points. That’s a significant chunk of scoring. Renfrew, Rego, and Hellyer are expected to be back after the 10-day Christmas break.

Penticton will likely dress 12 forwards and seven defencemen once again. Andrew Ness is the Vees’ projected starter in goal.

West Kelowna Warriors

General Manager & Head Coach: Simon Ferguson

2023-24 : GP 26 18-6-2-0 (2^nd, Interior)

Last Game: 4-3 win (SO) at Salmon Arm (December 13^th)

Home: 9-3-2-0

Away: 9-3-0-0

GF: 99

GA: 73

Power Play: (15/84) 17.9% 15^th

Penalty Kill: (20/100) 80% 7^th

Scoring Leader: Felix Caron (16-13-29)

The Warriors are the hottest team in the BCHL, having won eight-straight games entering this weekend’s action. The Warriors can leapfrog the Vees for top spot in the conference with two wins.

West Kelowna is coming off a 4-3 shootout win in Salmon Arm Wednesday. The Warriors went up 3-0 in the first period, before the Silverbacks stormed back for three-straight to tie the game. West Kelowna won it in the shootout, as Isaiah Norlin scored the deciding goal in the three-round competition.

Not only has the Warriors won eight in a row, but they have also won four-straight on the road. During their eight-game run, the Warriors have picked up wins in Vernon, Merritt, and Salmon arm Wednesday.

Felix Caron leads the Warriors in scoring with 29 points in 26 games. Caron is tied for the BCHL lead with 16 goals. Caron was voted into the BCHL All-Star Tournament last week during the Fan Vote. Rookie forward Jack Pridham enters the weekend on a five-game point streak. The future Boston University Terrier has seven points (2-5-7) in those five games.

Goaltender Rorke Applebee has been very good down the stretch. Applebee has won his last eight starts and has allowed just six goals in his last four, which includes back-to-back shutouts on December 2^nd and 9^th.