Game Preview: GM #47 Vees at Warriors

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 3 at West Kelowna 6

Feb. 17 West Kelowna 0 at Penticton 4

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 46 34-7-3-2 (1^st, Interior)

Last Game: 6-2 win at Coquitlam (Mar. 8)

Home: 19-2-0-0

Away: 15-5-3-2

GF: 181

GA: 95

Power Play: (49/160) 30.6% 1^st

Penalty Kill: (28/131) 78.6% 9^th

Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (25-20-45)

Penticton has won four in a row and are 10-0-1-0 in their last 11 games, as they open the weekend against their Highway 97 rivals, the West Kelowna Warriors.

Tonight, is the final game of the Vees’ six-game road stretch away from the SOEC. Penticton has been excellent on the road of late, posting a 6-0-1-0 in their last seven. Their last regulation loss on the road was January 5^th in Prince George.

The Vees are coming off a Lower Mainland sweep, beating Langley and Coquitlam on the road last weekend. Penticton beat the Rivermen 5-3 Friday and finished off the weekend with a 6-2 win over the Express.

In Saturday’s game, Billy Renfrew recorded a hat-trick, his first as a Vee and was the first star. Renfrew has been excellent of late, posting four goals and six points in his last three. James Fisher assisted on each of Renfrew’s three goals on Saturday and has points in nine-straight games.

Tonight, is the Vees fifth meeting with the Warriors. Penticton shutout West Kelowna 4-0 in their last encounter on February 17^th. Penticton is looking for their first win in West Kelowna, as the home team has won all four games so far in the season series. Callum Arnott is the Vees’ top scorer against the Warriors, with four goals and five points in five games. Thomas Pichette also has five points (1G, 4A).

Will Ingemann looks to get the start in goal, his first after setting a new BCHL shutout streak record. Ingemann Has a win in two starts against the Warriors.

Penticton’s magic number is three to clinch the Interior Regular Season pennant. The Vees are eight points up on the Warriors with a game in hand. A win tonight in regulation would set up a clinching scenario at home tomorrow against Merritt.

West Kelowna Warriors

General Manager & Head Coach: Simon Ferguson

2023-24 : GP 47 28-10-9-0 (2^nd, Interior)

Last Game: 4-2 win at Vernon (Mar. 2)

Home: 14-4-5-0

Away: 14-6-4-0

GF: 184

GA: 144

Power Play: (33/145) 22.8% 5^th

Penalty Kill: (42/175) 76% 13^th

Scoring Leader: Felix Caron (28-31-59)

The Warriors are riding a five-game point streak (3-0-2-0) heading into the weekend. West Kelowna got back in the win column last Saturday in Vernon, knocking off the Vipers 4-2. That on the heels of back-to-back overtime losses to Coquitlam and Trail.

In the win against the Vipers, defenceman Sean Keohane scored twice for his first multi-goal game as a Warrior. Keohane, a Buffalo Sabres draft pick, has six points in his last five games.

Forward Callum Hughes scored the game-winner Saturday and has scored in four-straight games. Good time for Hughes to get hot, as forward Michael Salandra went down with an injury on February 23^rd, that will keep him out of the remainder of the regular season.

Including tonight, four of the Warriors final seven games are at home.