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GAME PREVIEW: Vees Clash With Bucks For Second Time This Season

PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography

The Penticton Vees (3-0-0-0) look to extend their season-opening win streak to four games as they take on the Cranbrook Bucks (1-2-0-0) for the second time this season on Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

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2021 REGULAR SEASON VS. CRANBROOK

Saturday, April 3rd vs. Cranbrook (6-3 Vees) (BOXSCORE)

Friday, April 9th @ Cranbrook (7:00 PM)

Monday, April 12th @ Cranbrook (7:00 PM)

Thursday, April 15th @ Cranbrook (7:00 PM)

Sunday, April 18th vs. Cranbrook (4:00 PM)

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)

Penticton comes into Friday night for the second of their back-to-back nights of action after defeating the Trail Smoke Eaters by a 6-0 score on Thursday night at the SOEC. Luc Wilson found the back of the net twice while Grayson Arnott, Tyler Ho, Fin Williams and Frank Djurasevic each added singles in the win. Kaeden Lane was terrific in the Vees net, turning aside each of the 20 shots he faced for his third win of the season and his first shutout in the BC Hockey League.

The Vees and Bucks have met once in their franchises’ history, which came last Friday in a 6-3 triumph for Penticton at the SOEC. Tristan Amonte scored twice in the game while Luc Wilson, Ryan Upson, Ben Wozney and Philippe Chapleau added singles in the winning cause. Kaeden Lane turned aside 23 of the 26 shots thrown his way for the victory in between the pipes.

Vees Leading Scorers:

Luc Wilson (3-4-7)

Jacob Quillan (1-3-4)

Tristan Amonte (2-1-3)

Frank Djurasevic (2-1-3)

Tyler Ho (2-1-3)

A four-point night for Luc Wilson highlighted the Vees victory on Thursday night and helped Penticton to a 3-0 start to begin the season. Wilson, a Minnesota State-Mankato commit, is in his first season with the Vees after being acquired from the Cowichan Valley Capitals in the offseason and leads the team in scoring after collecting 12 points in 12 Okanagan Cup games. The Duncan, BC native has points in each of the Vees first three games to begin the season, two of which are multi-point contests.

After scoring the game winning goal in overtime to capture the Okanagan Cup, forward Jacob Quillan has amassed points in each of his first three games to begin his first BCHL campaign. The Quinnipiac University commit opened the season with a shorthanded goal against the Smoke Eaters and since has added three assists for four points in the early part of the year. The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia product had five goals and ten points during his Okanagan Cup play from September to November.

The Bucks come into tonight’s action looking to get back in the win column after an 8-3 loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters on Wednesday night at the SOEC. Tyson Dyck, Zeth Kindrachuk and Nik Sombrowski each tallied in the game for Cranbrook while Nathan Airey started the game, stopping 11 of the 17 shots he faced in his 2nd loss of the season before Jay Thomson came on in relief to turn aside 11 of the 13 shots thrown his way.

Bucks Leading Scorers:

Zeth Kindrachuk (1-3-4)

Tyson Dyck (2-1-3)

Noah Quinn (1-2-3)

Walker Gelbard (0-3-3)

AJ Vasko (2-0-2)

Cranbrook has their fair share of rookies looking to try and make an impact on this shortened BCHL season and forward Zeth Kindrachuk has done just that with points in each of his team’s first three games. The Calgary, Alberta product scored a goal and an assist in nine exhibition contests but currently leads his team in scoring with a goal and three assists for four points. Kindrachuk had two assists in the first meeting between the Vees and Bucks and was noticeably Cranbrook’s best player.

The Vees and Bucks will clash for the second time in team history and the second of 10 meetings tonight from the South Okanagan Events Centre. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with the game being aired live on EZ Rock AM 800 as well as on pay-per-view at BCHLTV.ca and live on Shaw Spotlight.