PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography
The Penticton Vees (5-0-0-0) aim to push their win streak to six games as they face-off against the Cranbrook Bucks (1-4-0-0) on Monday 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 (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 earned their fifth straight win on Sunday evening in a 6-1 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters at the SOEC. Ryan McGuire scored a pair of goals while Fin Williams, Tom Richter, Jacob Quillan and Luc Wilson added singles in the win with Kaleb McEachern earning his first win as a Vee and in the BCHL while making 20 saves on 21 shots in the Vees crease.
The Vees and Bucks play the third of their ten-game season series with Penticton coming out on top in each of the first two meetings, including a 5-3 victory on Friday in the team’s last matchup. Liam Malmquist, Crae Dawson, Ryan McGuire, Jacob Quillan and Luc Wilson each found the back of the net for the Vees while Kaeden Lane turned aside 15 of the 18 shots thrown his way for the win in net.
Vees Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (5-5-10)
Jacob Quillan (3-4-7)
Liam Malmquist (1-6-7)
Fin Williams (2-4-6)
Tyler Ho (2-3-5)
The strong start to the season for Luc Wilson continued on Sunday evening as the Vees forward and leading scorer earned an honourable mention for the BC Hockey League’s Player of the Week award. The University of Minnesota State-Mankato commit scored four goals and three assists for seven points for his team during the last week in the Vees last three games. The Duncan, BC product currently sits 5th in the league in scoring and is one of six players on the year to have double digits in points.
After making 20 saves on 21 shots in his first start as a Vee, Kaleb McEachern will hand the crease back to Kaeden Lane for tonight’s game, who is coming off of victory over Cranbrook his last time out and has won each of his four starts on the season. The Burnaby, BC native has surrendered just seven goals in his four outings, posting a 1.75 goals against average and a .923 save percentage with one shutout, one of five netminders to post a goose egg during the 2021 campaign.
The Bucks come into Monday night after a day off on Sunday and looking for their second win in franchise history after a 4-2 loss to the Smoke Eaters on Saturday night at the SOEC. Tyson Dyck and Rhys Bentham scored second period goals for Cranbrook but it was just not enough to come from behind to get the game even. Jay Thomson stopped 18 of the 22 shots thrown his way in his 1st loss of the season.
Bucks Leading Scorers:
Zeth Kindrachuk (2-4-6)
Tyson Dyck (3-2-5)
Noah Quinn (1-3-4)
Walker Gelbard (0-4-4)
Quaid Anderson (1-2-3)
Tyson Dyck was named second star in the losing cause on Saturday night and the 17-year-old forward leads his team in goals with his three tallies in five games. The Abbotsford, BC native has been one of the most consistent pieces for the Bucks offensively, which has struggled at times to find the back of the net. Cranbrook has seen their offense spread out amongst their team with 12 players on the Bucks roster burying a puck in the back of the goal.
Points in three of his team’s first five games sees Bucks defender Rhys Bentham as the team’s top scorer from the blue line. The Calgary, Alberta native also posted the first shorthanded goal in franchise history, getting the Bucks within a marker on Saturday night against Trail. Bentham had four assists in nine exhibition games and has made an impression on the coaching staff as he is wearing an “A” on his sweater during this season.
The Vees and Bucks will meet for the third of ten times this season on Monday 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.
