Photo: Jack Murray
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 45 41-3-0-1, Clinched 1st Interior Conference
Home: 21-0-0-0
Away: 20-3-0-1
GF: 235
GA: 80
Power Play: 37.3% (1)
Penalty Kill: 83.9%
Top Scorer: Bradly Nadeau (35-54-89)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 4-1 W @ Prince George (Feb. 25) | Mar. 4 @ Trail, 7:00 pm |
| 6-2 W vs. Wenatchee (Feb. 24) | Mar. 10 vs. Langley, 7:00 pm |
| 5-1 W vs. Cranbrook (Feb. 20) | Mar. 11 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| 7-2 W @ Merritt (Feb. 18) | Mar. 17 vs. Nanaimo, 7:00 pm |
| 8-2 W vs. West Kelowna (Feb. 17) | Mar. 18 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| Season Series |
| 6-0 W vs. Merritt (Oct. 7) |
| 5-4 W @ Merritt (Oct. 14) OT |
| 8-0 W @ Merritt (Dec. 14) |
| 7-2 W @ Merritt (Feb. 18) |
| Mar. 3 @ Merritt, 7:00 pm |
| Mar. 11 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| Mar. 18 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
Last Game: The Vees earned their sixth-straight win last Saturday in Prince George, knocking-off the Spruce Kings 4-1. Aydar Suniev and Josh Nadeau each scored twice in the win. Hank Levy picked up his 12th win to remain undefeated, as he stopped 23 of 25 shots. Special teams played an important role in the win, as the Penticton power play went 2-3 and the penalty kill was 5-6. The Vees finished their season series against PG with a 4-1-0-0 record.
Tonight’s game: Fifth of seven meetings with the Centennials. The Vees will see Merritt quite a bit in March, as they play the Cents’ three times over the next three weeks. After tonight, Merritt makes back-to-back Saturday trips to Penticton on March 10th and March 18th. Tonight, the Vees can clinch the BCHL Regular Season pennant, the Ron Boileau trophy, with a win over the Centennials. That would lock up home-ice advantage for Penticton throughout the BCHL playoffs. It would be their second consecutive BCHL Regular Season pennant.
BCHL Player of the Month: Josh Nadeau was named the First Star for the month of February by the BCHL Wednesday. He had 16 points (9G, 7A) in eight games last month. His nine goals in February was tops in the BCHL and he and two others finished tied for the most points in the league.
Merritt Centennials
GM & Head Coach: Curtis Toneff
2022-23: GP 41 11-30-3-2, 9th Interior Conference
Home: 6-15-1-1
Away: 5-15-2-1
GF: 122
GA: 221
Power Play: 18.1% (16)
Penalty Kill: 77.3% (13)
Top Scorer: Jaxson Murray (19-23-42)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 7-1 L @ West Kelowna (Feb. 26) | Mar. 4 vs. West Kelowna, 7:00 pm |
| 3-1 L vs. Wenatchee (Feb. 25) | Mar. 10 vs. Wenatchee, 7:00 pm |
| 5-1 L @ Salmon Arm (Feb. 24) | Mar. 11 @ Penticton, 6:00 pm |
| 9-1 L @ West Kelowna (Feb. 20) | Mar. 17 @ Wenatchee, 7:05 pm |
| 7-2 L vs. Penticton (Feb. 18) | Mar. 18 @ Penticton, 6:00 pm |
Last Game: The Centennials their sixth in a row on Sunday, dropping a 7-1 decision on the road to the West Kelowna Warriors. Jaxson Murray scored the Centennials’ lone goal in the first period. Affiliate Player Nathan Preston made his first BCHL start and stopped 42 of 49 shots. Preston is a 17-year-old from Penticton who plays for OHA’s U18 Prep team in the CSSHL.
Outlook: Merritt has been hit hard by the injury bug. As of Sunday, they had seven regulars out of the line up, including starting goaltender Johnny Hicks. As of Friday, Merritt is 13 points back of Trail for the final playoff spot with eight games to go. The Smoke Eaters need three points to clinch the eighth seed. Merritt’s playoff hopes are still alive but they’ll need to get on a run to keep in the hunt.
