BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: South Okanagan Events Centre
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
Jan. 26th Chilliwack at Penticton, 7:00 pm
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
Record : GP 34 24-6-2-2 (1st, Interior)
Home: 15-1-0-0
Away: 9-5-2-2
Last Game: 5-1 win vs. Cranbrook (Jan. 13)
GF: 131
GA: 77
Power Play: (38/117) 32.5% 1st
Penalty Kill: (23/97) 76.3% 12th
Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (17-16-33)
The Penticton Vees are back from the BCHL All-Star break, as they play their first game in 13 days. Penticton opens a two-game weekend home stand tonight against the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Surrey Eagles come to town tomorrow.
The Vees have won their last three games and are coming off a 5-1 win over the Cranbrook Bucks back on January 13. Penticton is enjoying the comfort of home, as they are in the middle of a four-game home stand and own an impressive 15-1 home record this season.
Penticton is getting a significant addition to their lineup this weekend, as forward Conyr Hellyer returns to the lineup after missing the last 11 games with a lower-body injury. Hellyer hasn’t played since December 2. The 19-year-old Alternate Captain is an important piece down the middle and plays in all situations.
It’s first game between these two teams since the December trade that saw the Vees acquire defenceman Lucas Sorace, in exchange for forward Parker Murray. Both players will be highly motivated to play their former teams tonight.
Max Heise won’t play tonight, as he serves a one-game suspension stemming from a goalie interference penalty in the Vees’ last game against Cranbrook.
Will Ingemann is tonight’s projected starter in goal. The rookie goaltender 15-4-1-2, with a 2.06 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.
Tonight is the first and only meeting with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the regular season. The last time the Vees faced the Chiefs was October 19 of last season, a 6-2 win at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
Chilliwack Chiefs
GM & Head Coach: Brian Maloney
2023-24 : GP 33 17-13-3-0 (5th, Coastal)
Home: 7-6-3-0
Away: 10-7-0-0
Last Game: 4-1 win at Coquitlam (Jan. 24)
GF: 106
GA: 110
Power Play: (24/104) 23.1% 5th
Penalty Kill: (29/130) 77.7% 9th
Scoring Leader: Willyam Gendron (11-23-34)
The Chiefs snapped their four-game losing streak with a 4-1 road win Wednesday afternoon against the Coquitlam Express. Chilliwack led 1-0 after 20 minutes and 3-0 through two periods, as they extended their point streak to three games.
The Chiefs enter the weekend sitting fifth in the Coastal Conference but are just three points back of the second place Nanaimo Clippers. Chilliwack could move into fourth place with a win tonight, coupled with a Victoria regulation loss in Trail.
GM & Head Coach Brian Maloney made a significant move on Thursday, acquiring 20-year-old forward Willyam Gendron from the Clippers, in exchange for forward Dylan Kinch. Gendron was tied for third in team scoring in Nanaimo at the time of the trade as he had 34 points in 32 games. He recently participated in the BCHL All-Star weekend in Penticton. Gendron is committed to Sacred Heart University.
Former Vee Parker Murray has settled in nicely with the Chiefs. The 20-year-old forward has six points (3G, 3A) in 11 games with Chilliwack. Murray recently committed to Cornell University.
Chilliwack is in the middle of a four-game road stretch. After tonight, the Chiefs visit the West Kelowna Warriors tomorrow, then the Langley Rivermen on February 2.
