Different colours tonight but the Penticton Vees (45-6-1-0) are looking for the same result. It’s Anti-Bullying Night at the SOEC, as the Vees will wear pink clad jerseys when they face the Trail Smoke Eaters (20-31-0-2).
The Vees are looking for their seventh straight win and seventh in as many games against the Smoke Eaters. Penticton extended their win streak to six last night, scoring a 5-2 win over the visiting West Kelowna Warriors, who had their eight-game unbeaten run come to an end. Trail hasn’t played since Tuesday, when they were thumped in Salmon Arm 9-3; they’ve lost their last three.
That loss was the last game for Head Coach Nick Deschenes as the team announced yesterday afternoon that they’ve relieved Deschenes from his duties, with five games remaining in the regular season. In a team issued statement, Smokies’ President Tom Gawryletz said, “The team has been outscored 22-3 in the last three games but more importantly, it is obvious that the players are not responding to him.” The team will be guided by Assistant Coaches Barry Zanier, Curtis Toneff, and Craig Clare.
Scott Conway took over the BCHL scoring lead last night with his three-point effort against the Warriors. Conway had a goal in the first period and added two assists, as he now has 106 points in 50 games; one point up on Nanaimo’s Sheldon Rempal. Conway has a chance to pad his lead going forward, as the Vees have six more games in the regular season, including tonight, compared to Nanaimo’s three, and the Clips’ don’t play until next Friday.
Conway also extended his point streak to league-best 17-games last night and Tyson Jost extended his streak to 10 games. Conway also has recorded a point in every single Vees’ home game this season (25), which is also a BCHL best.
Zach Driscoll gets the start in goal tonight and has had the Smokies number this season. Driscoll is 5-0 against Trail, owning a 1.40 goals-against average and sports a sparkling .951 save percentage in those five games. Overall, Driscoll is 18-4 on the season with a .930 save percentage.
The only other line-up change will see Desi Burgart jump back into the line-up and Darius Davidson (Flu) come out. Burgart is playing his first game since January 13th, when he was hurt in a game against Wenatchee. Gabe Bast and Domenic Masellis remain out on the blue-line with lower-body injuries.
Trail will be missing some key pieces up front tonight, as top scorer Nick Halloran won’t play, along with forwards Kyle Star and Cooper Leitch; that’s 44-goals out of the line-up. Defenseman Ryan Swanson is also scratched. To help fill the holes up front, the Smokies have called up AP Jonathan Lee. The 18-year-old plays with the Kelowna Chiefs in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
The season series has heavily favoured the Vees as they’re 6-0 against Trail this season and three of those wins have come at the SOEC. In fact, the Smokies have lost 10 straight in Penticton dating back to March 1st, 2013, when the scored 3-2 overtime win; they’ve only won once in 17 games at the SOEC going back five seasons.
It’s not just Trail who has struggled at the SOEC, as the Vees own the best home record in the BCHL at 24-1-1-0; the next closest team is Powell River who has 21 wins on home ice. The Vees have only dropped three out of a possible 52 points at home this season.
For Trail, it’s not just the SOEC that has been a problem but playing away from Cominco Arena in general. The Smoke Eaters have lost 10 straight away from home and haven’t won a road game since December 13th, against Cowichan Valley; in their last four road games they’ve given up 33 goals.
Despite Trail’s recent struggles, the Vees will have to be careful tonight and not be guilty of overlooking their opponent. Trail might have a renewed sense of enthusiasm after the coaching change, as it might be a loose group, looking to make a good impression moving forward. They still are in the fight when it comes to a playoff spot too, as they enter tonight’s game five points back of Vernon for fourth. This won’t be a team that’s just going to roll over.
As mentioned off the top, it’s the Vees’ annual Anti-Bullying Night, as the team is wearing white jerseys with pink accents courtesy of Cobbs Bread. 12 different schools from across the district will be at the game as well, wearing their school colours and promoting Anti-Bullying Awareness.
