Photo: Cherie Morgan
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: SOEC
Radio: Bounce 800 am
Webcast: Hockey TV
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2022-23: GP 50 46-3-0-1, Clinched 1st overall in the BCHL
Home: 24-0-0-0
Away: 22-3-0-1
GF: 279
GA: 90
Power Play: 39.3% (1)
Penalty Kill: 84.4% (2)
Top Scorer: Bradly Nadeau (43-65-108)
| Last 5 Games | Remaining Schedule |
| 9-2 W vs. Nanaimo (Mar. 17) | Mar. 22 @ Salmon Arm, 6:00 pm |
| 6-3 W vs. Merritt (Mar. 11) | Mar. 24 vs. Vernon, 7:00 pm |
| 9-2 W vs. Langley (Mar. 10) | Mar. 26 vs. Salmon Arm, 4:00 pm |
| 7-2 W @ Trail (Mar. 4) | |
| 13-1 W @ Merritt (Mar. 3) |
Last Game: Penticton extended their win streak to 11 games with their 9-2 victory over Nanaimo Friday. Josh Nadeau picked up his third hat-trick of the season as part of a five-point night. Brother Bradly had six points (1G, 5A) and Aydar Suniev had a pair of goals. Josh Nadeau and Suniev join Bradly in the 40-goal club last night. The Vees now have three, 40-goal scorers on their roster.
The power play was firing on all cylinders, as the Vees scored four times on seven opportunities. They also set a new season high for shots as they fired 70 pucks at the Nanaimo net. Luca Di Pasquo picked up his 33rd win, as he stopped 16 of 18 shots.
Tonight: It’s the seven and final game in the season series with Merritt. The Vees have won all six, outscoring the Centennials 45-10. A week ago, the Vees doubled up the Cents’ winning 6-3 at the SOEC. Derek Sparks earned his first BCHL win in that game, stopping. 14 of. 17 shots.
Looks like Hank Levy will get the call between the pipes for the Vees. The 20-year-old is 12-0 with a 1.95 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. Against Merritt, Levy has posted three wins in three games and has one shutout.
Beanie Richter and Spencer Smith missed Friday’s game with the flu, and both will be game-time decisions tonight. Josh Niedermayer left last night’s game in the second period with a lower-body injury and is day-to-day.
Bradly Nadeau, Brett Moravec, and Jackson Nieuwendyk all play their 100th career regular season games tonight.
Merritt Centennials
GM & Head Coach: Curtis Toneff
2022-23: GP 51 12-34-3-2, 9th Interior Conference
Home: 7-17-1-1
Away: 5-17-2-1
GF: 135
GA: 264
Power Play: 16.6% (16)
Penalty Kill: 74.7% (15)
Top Scorer: Jaxson Murray (20-23-43)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 7-4 L @ Wenatchee (Mar. 17) | Mar. 24 at West Kelowna, 7:00 pm |
| 6-3 L @ Penticton (Mar. 11) | Mar. 25 vs. Vernon, 7:00 pm |
| 13-0 L vs. Wenatchee (Mar. 10) | |
| 5-4 W vs. West Kelowna (Mar. 4) OT | |
| 13-1 L vs. Penticton (Mar. 3) |
Outlook: Merritt lost their third consecutive game Friday, dropping a 7-4 decision south of the border to the Wenatchee Wild. Wenatchee scored four goals on 18 shots in the first period and never looked back. Maddix McCagherty, Diego Johnson, Aidan Lindblad, and Rocca La Cara scored in the loss for Merritt.
The Centennials are the walking wounded has they play out the remaining three games of their schedule. Merritt had seven regulars out of the lineup against Wenatchee, including leading scorer Jaxon Murray. The Cents had to dress six affiliate players last night.
