Game Preview: GM #28 Vees at Warriors

Photo Cherie Morgan

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Game Time: 7:00 pm PST

Location: Royal LePage Place, West Kelowna

Radio: Bounce 800 AM

Webcast: Flo Hockey 

Season Series

Sep. 22 Penticton 3 at West Kelowna 5

Dec. 15 West Kelowna 2 at Penticton 3 (OT)

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 27 20-3-2-2 (1^st, Interior)

Last Game: 3-2 win vs. West Kelowna (Dec. 15)

Home: 13-1-0-0

Away: 7-2-2-2

GF: 108

GA: 57

Power Play: (28/87) 32.2% 1^st

Penalty Kill: (18/74) 75.7% 13^th

Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (14-15-29)

The Vees ended their mini two-game winless streak Friday, with their 3-2 overtime win over the Warriors. It was the Vees first win against West Kelowna this season, as the two teams have split the first two games of the season series.

Callum Arnott scored a highlight reel game-winner, putting his stick between his legs before tucking the puck in short side on the Warriors’ Rorke Applebee. Larry Keenan opened the scoring in the first period and Cade Littler tied the game in the third period, when the Vees were down 2-1.

Andrew Ness was sensational in net, as he stopped 24 of 26 shots but made have a dozen grade ‘A’ stops. His best came in the third period, robbing the Warriors’ Jackson Kyrkostas with a lunging blocker stop without his stick. Since November 4^th, Ness is 5-0-1-0 in six starts, with a 1.63 goals-against average, .932 save percentage, and has one shutout.

Penticton is 7-2-2-2 on the road this season. The Vees have had some mixed results on the road, posting a 2-1-1-1 record in their last five games. The important thing is they keep finding ways to get points on the road, which is so important. It’s tough to win on the road in the Interior Conference.

The Vees enter tonight’s game five points ahead of the Warriors for top spot in the Interior Conference. Each team has played 27 games.

Only lineup change appears to be in goal, as Will Ingemann gets the start tonight. Ingemann has had an outstanding rookie season, posting a 13-2-1-2 record, with a 1.68 goals-against average, and .934 save percentage.

West Kelowna Warriors

General Manager & Head Coach: Simon Ferguson

2023-24 : GP 27 18-6-3-0 (2^nd, Interior)

Last Game: 3-2 loss (OT) at Penticton (December 15^th)

Home: 9-3-2-0

Away: 9-3-1-0

GF: 101

GA: 76

Power Play: (15/87) 17.2% 16^th

Penalty Kill: (20/102) 80.4% 7^th

Scoring Leader: Felix Caron (16-14-30)

The Warriors eight-game win streak ended with Friday’s OT loss, but they extended their point streak to nine games with the overtime point. West Kelowna is now three points clear of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks for second in the Interior

Despite last night’s loss the Warriors should be a confident bunch, as they have the third-most home wins in the conference and have won five-straight at Royal LePage Place. West Kelowna’s last home loss was back on November 14^th, against Merritt. Since they have rattled of wins against Salmon Arm twice, Vernon, Merritt, and Trail. Last weekend they beat Trail and Vernon by a combined scored of 13-6 on home ice. The Warriors are 4-7-0-0 in their last 11 home games against Penticton.

With his goal last night, forward Jack Pridham extended his point streak to six games. The future Boston University Terrier has eight points (3G, 5A) in his last six.