Game Preview: GM #19 Vees at Cranbrook Bucks

Photo: Jack Murray

BROADCAST INFORMATION 

Game Time: 6:00 pm PST

Location: Western Financial Place, Cranbrook, B.C.

Radio: Bounce 800 AM  

Webcast: Flo Hockey  

Season Series 

November 15, Penticton at Cranbrook, 7:00 pm MST

January 11, Cranbrook at Penticton, 6:00 pm PST

March 21, Penticton at Cranbrook, 7:00 pm MDT

March 28, Cranbrook at Penticton, 7:00 pm PDT

Penticton Vees 

President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson 

2024-25 Record: GP 18, 13-5-0-0, 26 PTS (2nd , Interior Conference) 

Last Game: 7-3 win vs, Trail, November 11

Home: 6-1-0-0 

Away: 7-4-0-0 

GF: 70

GA: 52 

Power Play: 16/67 (23.9%, 7th in BCHL) 

Penalty Kill: 11/50 (78%, 8th in BCHL) 

Scoring Leader: Ryden Evers (8-9-17) 

The Penticton Vees enter the weekend on a two-game win streak after their 7-3 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters, Monday at the SOEC.  Penticton scored a season high seven goals in Monday’s win, Ben Merrill had a pair of them. Casey Brown, Louie Wehmann, Ryden Evers, Anselmo Rego, and Simon Meier also scored.

Penticton sits second in the Interior, six points back of the Brooks Bandits. The Vees have the tie-breaker over Salmon Arm for second, as they have more wins. Penticton is six points up on the Cranbrook Bucks who sit fifth.

Tonight, is a the start of a two-game road trip through the Kootenays, as the Vees play the Trail Smoke Eaters tomorrow night. So far, Penticton has won seven of their first 11 road games. The Vees have played the second-most road games in the BCHL this season; the most of any Interior Conference team.

Yesterday, the Vees added 20-year-old goaltender Ethan Buenaventura to the active roster. Penticton acquired his BCHL playing rights from the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Buenaventura spent the last four seasons in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen. He will back up tonight, but likely make his Vees debut tomorrow in Trail.

The Vees welcome back 20-year-old Captain Conyr Hellyer to the lineup tonight. Hellyer has missed the last four games with an upper body injury. Penticton will dress 13 forwards against the Bucks.

Will Ingemann gets the start in goal, his fifth consecutive. Through 14 games he is 9-4-0-0 with a 2.94 goals-against average and .887 save percentage.

Penticton will look for a better start on the road. Through 18 games, they have scored first just seven times. Odd stat, as they have conceded the first goal in six of their last seven games but have won four of those seven. They are a team that has had a pension for coming back from early deficits.

Cranbrook Bucks

President, General Manager & Head Coach: Ryan Donald

2024-25 Record: GP 16, 10-6-0-0, 20 PTS (5th, Interior Conference) 

Last Game: 6-0 win at Blackfalds, November 9

Home: 5-4-0-0 

Away: 5-2-0-0 

GF: 64

GA: 41 

Power Play: 20/66  (30.3%, 2nd in BCHL)

Penalty Kill: 6/60 (90%, 2nd in BCHL) 

Scoring Leader: Bryce Sookro (6-14-20)

The Bucks sit fifth in the Interior Conference, two points back of the second place Smoke Eaters. Cranbrook has two games in hand on Trail.

Cranbrook split last weekend on the road in Alberta. Friday, the Bucks lost 5-1 in Spruce Grove, but rebounded Saturday to win 6-0 against Blackfalds. After tonight, Cranbrook heads to Brooks tomorrow for a road game against the Bandits.

13 players are back from last year’s team that finished seventh in the Interior Conference with a 20-31-3-0 record. In the playoffs, the Bucks took the second place West Kelowna Warriors to seven games in their opening round series, but eventually lost in that decisive game.

Cranbrook came out of the gates red-hot this season, winning eight of their first nine games. Since October 19th, the Bucks have sputtered somewhat, winning just two of their last two of their last seven games.