Game Preview: GM #36 Vees vs. Surrey Eagles
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 6:00 pm PST
Location: South Okanagan Events Centre
Season Series
Jan. 27th Surrey at Penticton, 6:00 pm
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
Record : GP 35 24-7-2-2 (1st, Interior)
Home: 15-2-0-0
Away: 9-5-2-2
Last Game: 3-1 loss vs. Chilliwack (Jan. 26)
GF: 132
GA: 80
Power Play: (38/121) 31.4% 1st
Penalty Kill: (23/99) 76.3% 11th
Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (17-16-33)
The Vees look to bounce back after Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Chilliwack Chiefs at home. It was a scoreless game through 40 minutes, before the Chiefs scored twice in 1:06 midway through the third period. Friday’s first star was Chiefs’ goaltender Vladimir Nikitin, who stopped 48 shots, including 32 in the third period alone.
Billy Renfrew scored the Vees’ one goal, as he spoiled Nikitin’s shutout bid inside the final minute of regulation.
Friday was just the Vees second loss at the SOEC and first since December 9th.
Since December 1st, Penticton’s offence has seen a dip in production. In their last 14 games, the Vees have been held to three or less goals 11 times and two or less goals five times. That may be more of a reflection on how much tougher the BCHL gets this time of year.
It won’t get any easier tonight, as the Eagles have allowed the fewest goals against in the BCHL this season with 70 in 32 games.
Forward Max Heise is eligible to return to the lineup tonight after serving his one-game suspension Friday. Penticton dressed 12 forwards and seven defencemen a night ago.
Andrew Ness will get the start in net. Ness has won his last six starts and is 9-2 on the season with a 2.19 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. He has two shutouts.
Penticton is 4-1-0-1 against the Coastal Conference.
Surrey Eagles
GM & Head Coach: Cam Keith
2023-24 : GP 32 26-4-2-0 (1st, Coastal)
Home: 16-1-1-0
Away: 10-3-1-0
Last Game: 5-3 win at Langley (Jan. 26)
GF: 123
GA: 70
Power Play: (32/109) 29.4% 2nd
Penalty Kill: (17/100) 83% 1st
Scoring Leader: Caden Cranston (22-29-51)
The Eagles are first overall in the BCHL and red-hot. Surrey has won seven straight games and are 10-0-2-0 in their last 12 games. They haven’t lost in regulation since November 25th.
The Eagles won 5-3 in Langley last night, their third win against the Rivermen since December 30th. Their double threat of Caden Cranston and Aaron Schwartz led the way last night. Cranston had three points (1-2-3)and Schwartz had two points (1-1-2). Jaiden Sharma picked up the win in net, stopping 25 of 28 shots.
Cranston and Schwartz are both in the top five in BCHL scoring. Cranston leads the BCHL with 51 points in 31 games. Schwartz is fourth with 44 points in 31 games. Ryden Evers rounds out the top three in team scoring with 30 points in 32 games.
Ajeet Gundarah has been one of the best goaltenders in the BCHL this season. The 20-year-old leads the league in wins (19), goals-against average (1.91), and save percentage (.938).
The Eagles are playing their first road game outside of the Lower Mainland since November 25th (Prince George). Surrey is 4-2-1-0 against the Interior Conference.