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Preview: Vees host Merritt looking for bounce-back effort

Photo Credit: Ian Webster/Merritt Herald

Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (8-1-0-1) dropped their first game of the year against the Langley Rivermen 2-1 Wednesday night. Now they welcome their division rival Merritt Centennials (4-8-0-2) looking for a rebound effort.

After an excellent shift inside the Langley zone early in Wednesday’s game, the Rivermen were the ones opening the scoring. Trevor St. Jean found the back of the net off a shot from the left face-off circle that beat a screened Adam Scheel just five minutes into the game.

The score stayed that way well into the third period when the Rivermen capitalized on a turnover. Scheel came out of his net to play the puck, but his pass hit the stick of Ryan O’Connell and the Langley forecheckers converged. Ethan Leyh grabbed the puck and slid it through the five hole of Scheel before he could get back into position to make it 2-0 Langley.

Penticton would get a goal back on a power play a few minutes later after Cassidy Bowes’ shot from the left circle hit Dakota Boutin’s leg and deflected over Braedon Fleming. Despite 21 shots in the third period, that goal was the only one the Vees could muster as they dropped the 2-1 game.

Merritt was also at home on Wednesday as they welcomed the Chilliwack Chiefs. Jack Vincent scored on a penalty shot in the second, but Chilliwack tied the game a minute later and would add two more in the 4-2 win.

Friday’s meeting is the third of the year between Merritt and Penticton, with the first two taking place at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. The Vees won the opening game of the year 4-2, and picked up a 3-2 overtime win a week ago after Jonny Tychonick scored twice in the final five minutes to tie it up before Grant Cruikshank’s winner. All three of Tychonick’s goals this season have come against Merritt.

The Vees won all three games at home against the Centennials during last year’s regular season.

Friday’s broadcast can be heard with Craig Beauchemin and Scott Austin beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 p.m. on EZ Rock AM 800, online by clicking on this sentence or by watching at www.hockeytv.com.

Team Statistics

Leading scorers

Penticton Vees

Owen Sillinger – 4 G 6 A 10 GP

Chris Klack – 2 G 6 A 9 GP

Nicky Leivermann – 2 G 5 A 9 GP

Merritt Centennials

Nick Wicks – 4 G 7 A 13 GP

Zach Court – 2 G 7 A 14 GP

Henry Cleghorn – 2 G 6 A 13 GP

Special Teams

Penticton Vees

Power Play – 21.6% (4th in BCHL)

Penalty Kill – 91.8% (2nd in BCHL)

Merritt Centennials

Power Play – 14.5% (15th in BCHL)

Penalty Kill – 82.7% (10th in BCHL)

Season Series

September 8, 2017 – Vees 4 Centennials 2 Boxscore

October 13, 2017 – Vees 3 Centennials 2 OT Boxscore

October 20, 2017 @ Penticton

January 10, 2018 @ Penticton

January 19, 2018 @ Penticton

February 2, 2018 @ Merritt