The Penticton Vees (18-7-0-3 / 9-3-0-1) welcome back the Merritt Centennials (14-9-1-1 /6-5-1-0) to the SOEC tonight. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series, both teams winning by 3-2 scores, both coming on the road.
LISTEN LIVE
WATCH
The Vees will have a new face in the line-up tonight as Jedd Soleway (94) makes his Vees debut after coming over from Vernon this week in a trade with the Vipers. The Vees sent forward Dexter Dancs (95) the other way. Soleway has 16 points in 26 games before the trade, one of those an assist against the Vees way back on September 8th. Tonight may be Soleway’s first game as a Vee at the SOEC but he already feels at home. In six career games at the Vees home rink, Soleway has picked up a goal and an assist.
Best of November:That title belongs to Vees forward Brad McClure who led the team in goals (7) and points (10) in 10 games last month. The Vees sniper now has 17 goals on the season, which is fifth best in the BCHL; four back of the league-leader.
Regan Soquilawas named the Cents’ top forward for November, as he put together eight points (4-4) in nine games; It only took him seven games as was held scoreless in the final two games of November. Soquila wasn’t the best Cents’ forward, statistically speaking, as Derek Huisman led all Cents’ in scoring with five goals and 10 points in nine games.
Both teams are coming off games against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The Vees dropped a double-overtime decision (3-2) to the Silverbacks last Saturday, the Cents’ beating Salmon Arm 5-3 one night earlier.
The Vees are 6-3-0-0 after a loss, outscoring their opposition 30-23 in the process. The Vees have had their way with Merritt at the SOEC in the month of December, as they never have lost to the Cents’ in December at the SOEC. The Vees all-time are 13-1-2-1 at the SOEC in December; they aren’t on many teams’ “nice lists” during the holidays.
Tonight starts a stretch of three straight home games for the Vees and four of their final five before the holiday break are at home. The Cents’ are one of the busiest teams in December, as they have six more games after tonight before they break for Christmas; three at home and three on the road.
On the injury front, the Vees welcome back Rob Mann to the line-up; no Mike Rebry as he still is recovering from a lower-body injury.
