Photo: Cherie Morgan
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: Cominco Arena
Radio: Bounce 800 am
Webcast: Hockey TV
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2022-23: GP 46 42-3-0-1, Clinched 1st overall in the BCHL
Home: 21-0-0-0
Away: 21-3-0-1
GF: 248
GA: 81
Power Play: 37.6% (1)
Penalty Kill: 84.3% (3)
Top Scorer: Bradly Nadeau (36-56-92)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 13-1 W @ Merritt (Mar. 3) | Mar. 10 vs. Langley, 7:00 pm |
| 4-1 W @ Prince George (Feb. 25) | Mar. 11 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| 6-2 W vs. Wenatchee (Feb. 24) | Mar. 17 vs. Nanaimo, 7:00 pm |
| 5-1 W vs. Cranbrook (Feb. 20) | Mar. 18 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| 7-2 W @ Merritt (Feb. 18) | Mar. 22 @ Salmon Arm, 6:00 pm |
Last Game: The Vees clinched their second consecutive Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy as BCHL Regular Season champions, with their 13-1 win in Merritt Friday. With clinching first overall in the BCHL, the Vees have secured home-ice advantage throughout the BCHL playoffs. The 13 goals is a new season high for Penticton, surpassing their previous high of 11. Penticton scored six goals in the first and third periods, matching season highs.
Billy Norcross recorded a game-high four points (1G, 3A), Aydar Suniev picked up his second hat-trick of the season, and Josh Nadeau and Thomas Pichette each had two goals. Only three Vees were held pointless. Penticton is now 5-0-0-0 against the Centennials and have outscored them 39-7 the season series.
Tonight: Penticton looks to extend their win streak to eight as they face the Trail Smoke Eaters for the fifth and final time in the regular season. The Vees last played Trail back on January 13th, picking up a 7-2 win at Cominco Arena. Since then, the Vees have gone 11-0-0-1. Penticton is 4-0-0-0 against the Smokies, heading into the final matchup of the regular season. With the way the BCHL’s Interior Standings are shaping up, tonight could very well be a first round playoff preview. The Vees sit first, the Smoke Eaters eighth.
A handful of Vees are looking to extend their point streaks tonight. Aydar Suniev (9G, 8A) and Ryan Hopkins (2G, 10A) have points in nine-straight games. Bradly Nadeau (4G, 14A) has recorded points in each of his last seven games. He has two or more points in six-straight. Josh Nadeau (11G, 8A) has scored in in six consecutive games and has points in his last seven.
Tonight, is 20-year-old Spencer Smith’s 100 game in the BCHL. Smith has lots of Jr. A experience under his belt, as he has played 193 games between the Ontario Junior Hockey League, United States Hockey League, and BCHL.
Trail Smoke Eaters
GM & Head Coach: Tim Fragle
2022-23: GP 47 17-24-3-3, 8th Interior Conference
Home: 11-11-1-1
Away: 6-13-2-2
GF: 140
GA: 187
Power Play: 20.9% (8)
Penalty Kill: 77.9% (11)
Top Scorer: Brady Hunter (15-36-51)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 6-1 L vs. Chilliwack (Mar. 3) | Mar. 10 vs. Coquitlam, 7:00 pm |
| 5-2 L @ Salmon Arm (Mar. 1) | Mar. 11 vs. Surrey, 7:00 pm |
| 3-1 L vs. Vernon (Feb. 25) | Mar. 17 @ Vernon, 7:00 pm |
| 6-5 OTL @ West Kelowna (Feb. 24) | Mar. 18 @ Vernon, 6:00 pm |
| 3-2 W @ Vernon (Feb. 20) OT | Mar. 24 @ Wenatchee, 7:05 pm |
Last Game: Trail’s winless streak hit four after a 6-1 loss at home to the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Chiefs scored five goals in the third period, including a short handed goal. It was tied 1-1 after two periods, as Trail’s Josh Schenk tied the game in the second for the home team. Special teams were a factor, as Chilliwack went 2-5 on the power-play, Trail was 0-5, including coughing up a shorthanded goal.
Outlook: Heading into tonight’s game, the Smoke Eaters need a win or Merritt regulation loss against West Kelowna to clinch the eighth seed in the Interior. Trail is in the middle of a four-game home stand before closing out the regular season with four-straight on the road. The Smoke eaters have lost their last three at home, with their last win at Cominco coming back on February 4th, against Prince George.
