After a week off the Penticton Vees (31-9-0-1) are back in action tonight hosting their South Okanagan rival, the West Kelowna Warriors (22-19-0-1) at the SOEC; puck drop is 6 pm.
The Vees haven’t played since routing the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 6-0 back on January 14th at home. The Warriors are coming off a hard-fought 2-1 loss at home to the Vernon Vipers Friday. Tonight marks the fifth of seven meetings between these two rivals, with the Vees winning the previous four, including a 4-2 win back on January 11th at the SOEC. That game was highlighted by the Vees’ special teams, as they scored three short-handed goals and one power-play in the victory.
Penticton comes into tonight’s match up with a 17-4-0-1 record at home, which includes that win against West-K 10 days ago. Since dropping their first two home games in January, the Vees have won their last two at the SOEC and by a combined score of 10-2. After tonight, it’s a quick turnaround for Penticton, as they make a stop in Salmon Arm tomorrow for a matinee contest against the Silverbacks.
Tonight kicks-off six straight on the road for West Kelowna as they don’t return to Royal LePage Place until February 4th. After tonight, it’s a three-game Island Division road trip starting next Friday in Victoria, which wraps up Sunday in Chilliwack. Then it’s two more divisional games in Vernon and Merritt in the first week of February. Coming into tonight, the Warriors sport a 7-9-0-1 record on the road and have dropped two of their last three away from RLP.
Special teams was the key in the last meeting between these two, as mentioned the Vees scored three short-handed goals, two by Nicholas Jones, in that 4-2 win 10 days ago. Last night the only two goals the Vipers scored were on the on power-play and the Warriors couldn’t capitalize on a four-minute power-play in the third period. Both the Warriors power-play and penalty-kill is ranked second-last in the BCHL.
Mat Robson is the likely starting goalie for the Vees and is a perfect 4-0 against West Kelowna this season. In four starts against the Warriors he owns a 1.75 goals-against average and a sparkling .944 save percentage. Cole Demers took the loss for the Warriors against the Vees in their last meeting, so the Vees could very well see newcomer Gabriel Morency in between the pipes. He won his only start against Surrey back on January 13th.
It’s a milestone night for two Vees in Owen Sillinger and Taylor Ward, as both are playing in their 100th career BCHL regular season game, and all in Vees’ colours. West Kelowna’s Connor Sodergren played in his 100th career regular season game last night.
The Vees will be without Gabe Bast, Greg Brydon and James Miller on the blue-line. Bast and Miller are still recovering from injury but both could return at some point next week. The Vees have called up Garrett Ewert from the Kamloops Storm to help fill that hole on the blue-line.
Nicholas Jones has had the Warriors number this season, as he’s scored seven goals in four games against West-K and has a team-best nine points; that’s six points more than the next closest Vee. Sodergren has been a thorn in the Vees side, as the 20-year-old forward has three goals and five points in four games against Penticton.
Season Series
September 30th Penticton 3 at West Kelowna 1
October 22nd Penticton 6 at West Kelowna 3
November 22nd Penticton 4 at West Kelowna 1
Jan 11th West Kelowna 2 at Penticton 4
Jan 21st West Kelowna at Penticton
February 17th West Kelowna at Penticton
February 21st Penticton at West Kelowna
Vees’ Scoring vs. West Kelowna
Nicholas Jones 7-2-9
Grant Cruikshank 2-1-3
Jamie Armstrong 1-2-3
Chris Klack 0-3-3
Jared Nash 0-3-3
Warriors’ Scoring vs. Penticton
Connor Sodergren 3-2-5
Quin Foreman 1-3-4
Braiden Epp 0-3-3
Tyler Jutting 0-2-2
Chase Stevenson 1-0-1
Fans can listen to tonight’s game on EZ Rock AM 800 locally, or on the iHeartRadio Canada app for their iPhone, iPad, smartphone or tablet. If you’re streaming through your web browser, go to the EZ Rock AM 800 website. The game is also available via the BCHL webcast at www.HockeyTV.com
