The Vees three-game Island Division road trip wraps-up this afternoon in Duncan, as they tangle with the Cowichan Valley Capitals at the Island Savings Centre; puck-drop is 2 pm.
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Penticton dropped their first game of the 2016-17 season last night in Port Alberni, 2-1 to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Captain Nic Jones scored a late power-play goal in the third to cut the deficit in half but the Vees comeback bid fell short.
Tired legs may be a factor this afternoon, as it’s the Vees’ third game in just two and a half days but they have a chance not only end the road trip on a winning note but take four of six points from the weekend. Also a win this afternoon and they’ll move into a tie for first in the Interior with Vernon.
Penticton will ice the same line-up as Saturday with the one change coming in goal, as Nolan Hildebrand makes his Vees & BCHL debut. The 18-year-old rookie was undefeated in the pre-season, winning two of his three starts and tying the other. Kenny Johnson is again on the blue-line after Gabe Bast suffered an upper-body injury Friday night in Powell River.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for defenceman Mitch Meek who played with the Caps last season and he’ll want nothing more than to mark his return to Duncan with a win.
The Vees are surely disappointed with their effort level last night and they’ll to have their work boots on today against the Caps in a tough environment at the “Big Stick.”
Cowichan Valley’s off-season could be categorized as a season of change, as new ownership came in and they’re returning only six players outside of goaltender Lane Michasiw. The Caps are 2-1 through three games this season and are coming off a big 2-1 road win in Victoria against the Island Division leading Grizzlies. So far they’ve split their two home games, winning 4-2 against Powell River but lost 6-1 to the Grizz on Tuesday.
Note the early start time with the pre-game show getting going at 1:40 pm on EZ Rock AM 800 and on www.fasthockey.com
