PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography
The Penticton Vees (9-1-0-0) are back in action after a pair of days off in the Penticton Pod as they face-off against the Cranbrook Bucks (1-9-0-0) on Wednesday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
2021 REGULAR SEASON VS. CRANBROOK
Saturday, April 3rd vs. Cranbrook (6-3 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Friday, April 9th @ Cranbrook (5-3 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Monday, April 12th @ Cranbrook (4-0 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Thursday, April 15th @ Cranbrook (7-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Sunday, April 18th vs. Cranbrook (5-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Wednesday, April 21st @ Cranbrook (7:00 PM)
Saturday, April 24th vs. Cranbrook (6:00 PM)
Friday, April 30th vs. Cranbrook (7:00 PM)
Monday, May 3rd @ Cranbrook (7:00 PM)
Sunday, May 9th vs. Cranbrook (4:00 PM)
The Vees come into Wednesday night’s action looking to push their win streak to four games as they take on the Bucks after defeating Cranbrook for their third straight win on Sunday evening in a 5-1 triumph. Five different goal scorers combined to help in the win with Tyler Ho, Jacob Quillan, Luc Wilson, Liam Malmquist and Ryan Upson all tallying in the victory. Kaeden Lane turned aside 19 of the 20 shots he faced in his 7th win of the season.
Vees Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (10-7-17)
Liam Malmquist (4-9-13)
Jacob Quillan (6-6-12)
Ryan Upson (5-7-12)
Fin Williams (2-7-9)
After a strong week in between the pipes for the Vees, netminder Kaeden Lane was recognized as the BCHL’s Player of the Week after posting two shutouts in four total starts. The Burnaby, BC native posted a 0.76 goals against average as well as a .966 save percentage over the course of the week and now leads all BCHL goaltenders with his 3 shutouts on the season. Lane currently sits with a 7-1 record on the season along with a 1.25 GAA and a .944 SV% in 8 games played.
Halfway through the 2021 season, Luc Wilson has not gone a game without registering a point as he carries a 10-game point streak into Wednesday night’s action. The Minnesota State-Mankato commit has collected a point in each game of the season, totaling 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points, which is for a tie for 3rd in the BC Hockey League in that category. The Duncan, BC native sits in 2nd in goal scoring with his 10 markers, joining Victoria’s Ellis Rickwood and Powell River’s Josh Kagan as the only players in double digits for goals.
Goals in back-to-back games have extended the point streak of Liam Malmquist to 9 games on the season, finding the scoresheet in each of the Vees games but one. The University of Wisconsin commit leads the Vees with 9 assists on the season and has scored in three of his last four games. Point streaks have continued for a number of Penticton’s players as well, including Ryan Upson (3 games), Fin Williams (3 games), and Ben Wozney (3 games).
The Cranbrook Bucks come into Wednesday night’s action looking to rebound, having lost eight straight games and fell by a 5-3 score to the Trail Smoke Eaters on Monday night at the SOEC. Cameron Kingle, Drake Burgin and Reece Henry all found the back of the net in the defeat while Nathan Airey turned aside 19 of the 24 shots he faced in his 7th loss of the season.
Bucks Leading Scorers:
Zeth Kindrachuk (3-6-9)
Walker Gelbard (2-7-9)
Tyson Dyck (3-2-5)
Rhys Bentham (2-2-4)
Noah Quinn (1-3-4)
An assist in Monday night’s loss to the Smoke Eaters extended the point streak of Walker Gelbard to three games as the Bucks forward vaulted to second in team scoring with a strong last three outings. Gelbard has two goals and three assists for five points in that span, including a goal and two assist performance against Trail on April 16th, which included his first career BCHL goal in the game.
Cranbrook ended a long power play drought with a Gelbard goal on the man advantage against the Vees on Sunday, breaking a 1-for-19 stretch on the season. The Bucks have power play goals in each of their last two games with Cameron Kungle being the beneficiary of one as well. Part of the plan for success with the power play will be drawing penalties as the Bucks rank 3rd in the three-team pod with 30 power play opportunities while only the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Nanaimo Clippers have less from around the league.
The Vees and Bucks will meet for the sixth of ten times this season on Thursday night from the SOEC. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with the game available on EZ Rock AM 800 beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 PM as well as BCHLTV.ca and Shaw Spotlight.
