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GAME DAY: Vees visit Merritt to open weekend road trip

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Game Time: 7:00 pm PT

Location: Nicola Valley Memorial Arena

Tonight’s game will be broadcast on Bounce 800 am and Hockey TV, starting with the pre-game show at 6:40 pm.


Penticton Vees

GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson

2022-23: GP 6 6-0-0-0, 1st Interior Division

Returnees: 14

Rookies: 7

Home: 4-0-0-0

Away: 2-0-0-0

 

Season Series:

Oct 7th, vs. Merritt (6-0 W)

Oct 14th, at Merritt, 7:00 pm

Dec 14th, at Meritt, 7:00 pm

Feb 18th, at Merritt, 7:00 pm

Mar 3rd, at Meritt, 7:00 pm

Mar 11th, vs. Meritt, 6:00 pm

Mar 18th, vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm

 

Last Game: The Penticton Vees picked up their sixth-consecutive win to start the season last Saturday, beating the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 3-1 at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC). Thomas Pichette, Frank Djurasevic, and Ethan Mann (Empty Net) scored in the win. Luca Di Pasquo stopped 20 shots for his fifth win. Djurasevic broke a 1-1 deadlock with 7:05 left on the clock in regulation. The Vees’ Captain scored his second goal of the season, which turned out to be the game-winner, late in the final frame. Djurasevic’s shot went off a Salmon Arm defender and in. Penticton peppered Silverbacks’ goaltender Matthew Tovell with 50 shots, as he frustrated Vees’ shooters throughout the game. Penticton’s power play went 1-4 and the penalty kill was 1-1. The Vees are a perfect 8-8 at home on the PK.

Tonight’s Game: The Vees look extend their season opening win streak to seven when they visit the Centennials tonight. Penticton last won their first seven games of the season during the 2019-20 campaign, when the Vees were 11-0-0-0 out of the gate. Tonight, is the Vees third road game of the season and second of seven against the Cents’. The Vees faced Merritt seven days ago, earning a 6-0 win at the SOEC. That game was highlighted by the Vees scoring 13 seconds apart in the first period to go up 3-0 after 20 minutes. Penticton scored three more in the middle frame. Hank Levy earned his first BCHL shutout in his first start as a Vee, as he stopped 19 shots.

The Vees could have good news on the injury front, as defenceman Josh Niedermayer, who missed last weekend with an upper body injury, could return to the line as early as tonight. Beanie Richter returned last Saturday after missing the last four games with an upper body injury.

Scoring Depth: Penticton boasts the top five scorers in the BC Hockey League. Bradly Nadeau sits first with 12 points, followed by brother Josh (11). Aydar Suniev, Brett Moravec, and Dovar Tinling occupy spots three, four five, as each have nine points. Suniev is tied with Merritt’s Jackson Krill and Cowichan Valley’s Luke Strickland for the most goals with six.

 

Merritt Centennials

GM & Head Coach: Curtis Toneff

2022-23: GP 6 2-4-0-0, 8th Interior Division,

Returnees: 8

Rookies: 9

Home: 0-2-0-0

Away: 2-2-0-0

 

Last Game: The Centennials had a tough two-game road trip last week, having to play in Penticton Friday and then made the trek north to Prince George Saturday. Not for the faint of heart. Merritt suffered a 6-4 setback against the Spruce Kings Saturday. They fell behind 3-0 in the first period, and 5-1 in the second, but managed to come back and make it a 5-3 game in the third period, before the Spruce Kings hit the empty net. A valiant effort considering the travel they went through over a 24-hour span. Jackson and Jaxon provided all the offence, as Jackson Krill and Jaxon Murray each scored twice.

Tonight’s Game: The Centennials look for their first home win of the season, after losses to Cranbrook and Trail on the opening weekend of the season. Three of the Centennials next five games are at home, with two midweek games next week at the Showcase in Chilliwack. The Nicola Valley Memorial Arena is not an easy place to play for the opposition. The next two weeks can be big for Merritt.

Shoot to Krill: 18-year-old Jackson Krill is off to a great start. The Port Moody, B.C. product is one goal away from matching his season high of seven a season ago. He’s tied for the league lead with Suniev and the Capitals Luke Strickland as each have six. Krill is on a great place, averaging just over a point per-game through the first six. Last season, split between Trail and Merritt, he had nine points in 42 games.