BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: South Okanagan Events Centre
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
Oct. 27 Vernon 3 at Penticton 5
Nov. 25 Penticton 1 at Vernon 2 (SO)
Dec. 31 Penticton 3 at Vernon 0
Jan. 12 Vernon 1 at Penticton 2
Feb 16 Vernon at Penticton, 7:00 pm
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
Record : GP 39 28-7-2-2 (1st, Interior)
Home: 17-2-0-0
Away: 11-5-2-2
Last Game: 8-0 win vs. Prince George (Feb. 10)
GF: 153
GA: 83
Power Play: (42/135) 31.1% 1st
Penalty Kill: (24/113) 78.8% 8th
Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (22-18-40)
The Vees kick-off a busy Family Day weekend against the Vernon Vipers at the SOEC. Penticton plays three games over the next four days. It’s a huge weekend for the Vees, as they play the teams sitting second through fourth in the Interior standings. Six big points up for grabs.
Tonight, is the fifth and final game in the regular season between Penticton and Vernon. The Vees have won three of the previous four encounters, including a 2-1 victory on January 12th in their last meeting. In each of the last three games between the two teams, the teams have combined for three goals. It’s that tight.
Penticton is coming off an 8-0 drubbing of the Prince George Spruce Kings and have won their last four games. The Vees sit first in the Interior Conference, five points up on the West Kelowna Warriors and they have a game in hand.
Billy Renfrew is heating up for the Vees. The 20-year-old has six points, all assists, in his last three games. Renfrew had four helpers in the Vees’ win Saturday against the Spruce Kings. Callum Arnott has four goals and six points in his last three games.
Looks like the Vees will welcome back forward Zack Stringer to the lineup this weekend. Stringer had missed the last two games with a lower-body injury. It was a precautionary measure by the team, but the 20-year-old should be ready to go tonight.
Andrew Ness is the projected starter in net for Penticton. Ness is 2-0 against Vernon and has stopped 43 of 44 shots in those two starts. He shutout Vernon on New Year’s Eve.
VERNON VIPERS
GM & Head Coach: Jason McKee
2023-24 : GP 39 24-14-1-0 (4th, Interior)
Home: 13-5-1-0
Away: 11-9-0-0
Last Game: 9-3 win at Cowichan Valley (Feb. 10)
GF: 144
GA: 104
Power Play: (33/137) 24.1% 3rd
Penalty Kill: (25/133) 81.2% 3rd
Scoring Leader: Owen Kim (12-27-39)
The Vipers are coming off a successful Vancouver Island trip last weekend, outscoring the Victoria Grizzlies 6-4 Friday, before pummelling the Cowichan Valley Capitals 9-3 Saturday.
Since these two teams last played on January 12th, Vernon has won five of their last seven games and now find themselves just three points back of third place Salmon Arm. Vernon enters this weekend riding a three-game win streak.
Hank Cleaves had a huge weekend for the Vipers last week and was named the BCHL First Star of the Week after picking up seven points in two games. The 20-year-old had three points in Friday’s win against Victoria and followed that up with four points in their victory Saturday over Cowichan Valley. He has 13 points in his last 10 games.
The Vipers were busy before the February 10th BCHL Trade Deadline. Vernon added forward Ewan McPherson from the Brooks Bandits, defenceman Zhenya Miles from the West Kelowna Warriors, and signed Czech defenceman Filip Krajcik. They traded defenceman Isaac Fecteau to Trail and released Czech forward Patrik Kral.
