Game Preview: GM #29 Vees at Silverbacks

Photo: Cherie Morgan

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Game Time: 6:00 pm PST

Location: Shaw Centre, Salmon Arm

Radio: Bounce 800 AM

Webcast: Flo Hockey 

Season Series

Dec. 8 Penticton 0 at Salmon Arm 1

Dec. 9 Salmon Arm 2 at Penticton 1

Dec. 30 Penticton at Salmon Arm, 6:00 pm PST

Feb. 2 Penticton at Salmon Arm, 6:00 pm PST

Feb. 19, Penticton at Salmon Arm,  2:00 pm PST

Mar. 23, Salmon Arm at Penticton, 6:00 pm PDT

Penticton Vees

GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson

Record : GP 28 20-4-2-2 (1^st, Interior)

Last Game: 6-3 loss at West Kelowna (Dec. 16)

Home: 13-1-0-0

Away: 7-3-2-2

GF: 111

GA: 63

Power Play: (30/92) 32.6% 1^st

Penalty Kill: (19/78) 75.6% 14^th

Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (15-15-30)

The Penticton Vees are back from the Christmas break, as they open a two-game road trip in Salmon Arm tonight. The Vees are playing their first game in just two weeks. Penticton lost their last game before the break 6-3 to the West Kelowna Warriors back on December 16^th.

Tonight, is the third of six meetings with the Silverbacks. The Vees are 0-2 against Salmon Arm, but both games have been decided by one goal. Salmon Arm won 1-0 on December 8^th, then 2-1 in Penticton on December 9^th. They ended the Vees’ 53-game home win streak. You can bet the Vees use that as motivation.

The Vees lost three of their four before the Christmas break but are getting reinforcements are here. Anselmo Rego and Billy Renfrew return after extended absences. Rego has missed 15 games with an upper-body injury, as he last played October 27^th. Renfrew has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury of his own. Both are welcome additions to the Vees’ forward group.

Penticton is looking for their first road win since December 2^nd, as they have lost their last three away from the SOEC. The Vees are 1-2-1-1 on the road since November 10^th. Four of those five losses have been one-goal games, and they have points in three of those five. Regardless, this team needs to find a way to get results this weekend in two tough environments in Salmon Arm and Vernon.

Will Ingemann gets the start tonight against Salmon Arm, with Andrew Ness going tomorrow against Vernon. Ingemann is winless in two starts against the Silverbacks but has allowed just three goals in those two games. His save percentage in those two games in .945.

Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Head Coach: Tyler Shattock

2023-24 : GP 28 18-8-0-2 (3^rd, Interior)

Last Game: 5-2 loss at Vernon (Dec. 29)

Home: 11-1-0-1

Away: 7-7-0-1

GF: 87

GA: 71

Power Play: (16/86) 18.6% 14^th

Penalty Kill: (14/80) 82.5% 1^st

Scoring Leader: Tristan Allen (4-19-23)

The Silverbacks have won four of their last six games (4-1-0-1) but lost 5-2 last night in Vernon in their first game back from the Christmas break. Cole Cooksey and Jonah Aegerter scored in last night’s loss, and goaltender Eli Pulver stopped 24 of 28 shots. Vernon scored once into the empty net.

Since sweeping the Vees in a two-game weekend set three weeks ago, the ‘Backs have alternated wins and losses in their last four games (2-1-0-1). Salmon Arm enters tonight’s game sitting third in the Interior Conference, five points back of the second place West Kelowna Warriors.

Despite last night’s loss, Eli Pulver has been very good in the Silverbacks’ crease. The 20-year-old has won 12 of his 19 starts and has posted a 2.30 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. He also has 2 shutouts. Pulver sports a .50 goals-against average and .985 save percentage in two starts against the Vees.

Salmon Arm is one of the better home teams in the BCHL this season. The Silverbacks have lost just twice at the Shaw Centre this year. The ‘Backs are 10-1-0-1 on home ice.