PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography
The Penticton Vees (27-6-0-2) return home for the first-time om two weeks and are riding a six-game win streak as they host the Trail Smoke Eaters (16-17-1-1) on Saturday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Hockey Fights Cancer Night.
2021/22 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE VS. TRAIL
Friday, October 15th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (4-3 Vees/OT) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, December 11th @ Trail Memorial Centre (6-3 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, February 5th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (6:00 PM)
Saturday, February 12th @ Trail Memorial Centre (7:00 PM)
Saturday, March 5th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (6:00 PM)
Penticton continued their win streak on Friday night in Merritt as they picked up a 5-3 victory over the Centennials at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Luc Wilson scored twice while Casey McDonald, Jackson Nieuwendyk and Adam Eisele each found the back of the net with singles. Carter Serhyenko turned aside 23 of the 26 shots thrown in his direction in his 2nd victory of the season.
The Vees and Smoke Eaters play in the third of their five-game season set with Penticton coming away victorious in each of the two contests, including a come-from-behind 6-3 victory in the teams’ last meeting in early December. Casey McDonald, Ryan Hopkins, Beanie Richter, Spencer Smith, Fin Williams and Brett Moravec each found the back of the goal in the win while Kaeden Lane turned aside 19 of the 22 shots thrown his way for the win in net.
Vees Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (20-28-48)
Josh Nadeau (25-21-46)
Fin Williams (12-25-37)
Brett Moravec (18-13-31)
Bradly Nadeau (13-18-31)
Making an immediate impact since his arrival with the team, defenseman Braden Doyle has been quite the distributor with the puck, owning nine assists in his opening eight games as a Vee. The Lynnfield, Massachusetts native has posted a point in all but one game since joining the team on January 12th, including points in each of his last six contests. A 6th round selection in the 2019 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings, Doyle has amassed 7 assists for 7 points in that span, including a three-assist game on January 28th in Wenatchee against the Wild.
With two goals on Friday night against the Centennials, Vees leading scorer Luc Wilson has hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career, eclipsing a previous total of 19 set with the Cowichan Valley Capitals during the 2019/20 season. The University of Minnesota State-Mankato commit has registered points in five of his last six games, boasting 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points during that time and now sits at 63 goals and 90 assists for 153 points in 165 career BC Hockey League games.
The Vees return to the SOEC for the first time since January 21st and remain the only team in the BCHL with just one regulation loss on home ice. The Vees are tied with the Langley Rivermen for the top spot in the league in home victories with 14 and possess the league’s 3rd best penalty kill when at home, operating at 86.5%, allowing just 7 power play goals against on home ice.
The Trail Smoke Eaters make their way into Saturday night’s game looking to get back into the win column after a 2-1 setback to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Friday night at the Shaw Centre. Brady Hunter scored the lone 3rd period marker for the Smoke Eaters, which got Trail within a goal in the final period but could not find the equalizer. Affiliate player Owen Albers made the start in net, his first career start in the BCHL, turning aside 27 of the 29 shots thrown his way in his 1st loss of the season.
Smoke Eaters Leading Scorers:
Brady Hunter (18-25-43)
Zach Michaelis (21-15-36)
Teddy Lagerback (16-17-33)
Quinn Disher (9-19-28)
Corey Cunningham (6-19-25)
A third period goal for Brady Hunter on Friday night kept his current point streak intact, coming into Saturday night riding points in four consecutive games. The Merrimack University commit has scored in each of his last three games, producing 4 goals and 2 assists for 6 points during his four-game point streak while also amassing markers in three straight games. The Enfield, Nova Scotia native can have nights where he collects points in bunches, owning 11 multi-point games this season including four of those consisting of three points or more in a night.
With Albers getting the start a night ago in Salmon Arm, it is expected Evan Fraudette will get the nod in the Smoke Eaters goal tonight in Penticton. The 20-year-old netminder has played the most games of any goaltender in the league, getting into 29 games this season. The St. Albert, Alberta native has posted the most minutes played of any goaltender in the league at 1676 and sits 15th in save percentage and 22nd in goals against average at 3.51.
The Vees and Smoke Eaters play the third of their five game season set tonight at the South Okanagan Events Centre. It is the Vees Hockey Fights Cancer night where fans are encouraged to wear lavender to support a great cause brought on by the Canadian Cancer Society. Tickets can be purchased at the Valley First Box Office inside of the SOEC as well as online at valleyfirsttix.com. If you can’t make it to the game, Bounce Radio 800 as well as a streamed version from BCHLTV.ca and will have the call beginning with the pre-game show at 5:40 for the 6:00 PM face-off.
