Photo: Cherie Morgan
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: Nicola Valley Memorial Arena
Radio: Bounce 800 am
Webcast: Hockey TV
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2022-23: GP 41 37-3-0-1, 1st Interior Conference
Home: 19-0-0-0
Away: 18-3-0-1
GF: 205
GA: 74
Power Play: 35.6% (1)
Penalty Kill: 83.9% (3)
Top Scorer: Bradly Nadeau (32-45-77)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 8-2 W vs. West Kelowna (Feb. 17) | Feb. 20 vs. Cranbrook, 2:00 pm |
| 5-2 W vs. Coquitlam (Feb. 10) | Feb. 24 vs. Wenatchee, 7:00 pm |
| 4-3 L @ Victoria (Feb. 4) SO | Feb. 25 @ Prince George, 7:00 pm |
| 1-0 W @ Surrey (Feb. 3) | Mar. 3 @ Merritt, 7:00 pm |
| 2-1 W @ Cranbrook (Jan. 28) SO | Mar. 4 @ Trail, 7:00 pm |
Last Game: Penticton has strung together back-to-back wins after thumping the West Kelowna Warriors 8-2 Friday at the SOEC. The Vees got eight goals from eight skaters and 10 players had multi-point games in the win. Spencer Smith led the offence with three points and was named the first star. Penticton exploded for six goals in the first period and never looked back. The six goals matches a season high for most goals in a single period. The Vees swept the seven-game season series against the Warriors, outscoring them 51-13.
Tonight’s Game: Fourth meeting of the season with the Merritt Centennials. The Vees picked up an 8-0 in Merritt back on December 14th, in the last encounter. Penticton is 3-0-0-0 against the Cents’, outscoring them 19-4. The have shutout Merritt twice. Penticton faces the Centennials four times over the final 13 games of the regular season. After tonight, they meet again on March 3rd, in Merritt.
Penticton’s lineup will be known closer to puck drop. Stay tuned and revisit the Vees’ website this afternoon for updates.
Merritt Centennials
GM & Head Coach: Curtis Toneff
2022-23: GP 41 11-25-3-2, 9th Interior Conference
Home: 6-13-1-1
Away: 5-12-2-1
GF: 116
GA: 190
Power Play: 19% (14)
Penalty Kill: 80.2% (6)
Top Scorer:
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 10-4 L @ Prince George (Feb. 11) | Feb. 20 @ West Kelowna, 2:30 pm |
| 3-2 W @ Prince George OT (Feb. 10) | Feb. 24 @ Salmon Arm, 7:00 pm |
| 4-3 L vs. Wenatchee (Feb. 3) | Feb. 25 vs. Wenatchee, 7:00 pm |
| 5-0 L vs. Salmon Arm (Jan. 27) | Feb. 26 @ West Kelowna, 2:30 pm |
| 4-3 L @ West Kelowna SO (Jan. 25) | Mar. 3 vs. Penticton, 7:00 pm |
Last Game: Merritt split their weekend up north last week against Prince George. The Centennials earned a 3-2 overtime victory last Friday, before losing 10-4 the next night to the Spruce Kings. In that loss Saturday, Merritt trailed just 3-2 after 20 minutes, PG went on to outscore the Centennials 7-2 over the final two periods.
Outlook: The Merritt roster went through an overhaul since these two teams last met. GM & Head Coach Curtis Toneff was one of the busier GM’s on the BCHL Trade Deadline. Merritt made three separate moves. Toneff traded forwards Davide Patella and Walker Erickson and defenceman Tristan Allan.
Patella was involved in a three-team trade that saw his rights shipped out to the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL. Merritt received future considerations from Cowichan Valley. Erickson was dealt to the Vernon Vipers also in exchange for futures. Allan was flipped to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks for forward Aidan Lindblad.
Toneff also added to two forwards in 16-year-old Maddix McCagherty and 18-year-old Dylan Emerson. McCagherty started to season with the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL. Emerson was playing with the Port Moody Black Panthers in the PIJHL.
