PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography
The Penticton Vees have the opportunity to advance into the 2nd round of the BC Hockey League playoffs as they host the Trail Smoke Eaters in Game #5 of their best-of-seven Interior Conference Quarter Final series on Thursday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
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 (8-2 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, February 12th @ Trail Memorial Centre (5-4 Vees/OT) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, March 5th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (8-2 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE vs. TRAIL
Game #1: Thursday, March 31st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (5-3 Smoke Eaters) (BOXSCORE)
Game #2: Friday, April 1st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (5-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Game #3: Monday, April 4th @ Cominco Arena (2-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Game #4: Tuesday, April 5th @ Cominco Arena (2-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
*Game #5: Thursday, April 7th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
*Game #6: Saturday, April 9th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)
*Game #5: Monday, April 11th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
*- If Necessary
The Vees will look to advance into the second round of the BC Hockey League playoffs following a 2-1 victory in Game #4 of their best-of-seven Interior Conference Quarter Final series against the Trail Smoke Eaters on Tuesday night at Cominco Arena. Josh Nadeau broke a scoreless tie in the 2nd period while Brett Moravec added an early 3rd period marker that stood up as the game winning goal. Kaeden Lane was once again very strong in net, making 29 saves on 30 shots in his 3rd win of the postseason.
Vees Regular Season Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (29-46-75)
Josh Nadeau (40-32-72)
Bradly Nadeau (20-26-46)
Brett Moravec (22-19-41)
Casey McDonald (20-17-37)
Vees Playoff Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (1-5-6)
Casey McDonald (2-1-3)
Brett Moravec (2-1-3)
Adam Eisele (1-2-3)
Bradly Nadeau (0-3-3)
Getting his second goal of the playoffs, that stood up as the winning marker on Tuesday night, was Vees forward Brett Moravec, who has points in every game of the series except for one. The Airdrie, Alberta native has posted a pair of goals and an assist for three points during their four-game series against the Smoke Eaters with both of his goals in the series being game winning markers. The University of Wisconsin commit registered 22 goals and 19 assists for 41 points in 49 regular season games while tallying the game winning goal in each of Game #2 and Game #4 to help the Vees to victory.
The leading scorer through the regular season and playoffs continued to add to his total on Tuesday with an assist on Moravec’s game winning goal as Luc Wilson has registered a point in every game of the series and leads the Vees with 6 points in 4 playoff games. The University of Minnesota State-Mankato commit sits tied for 6th in points during the playoffs while he rides a four-game point streak into Thursday’s action. Dating back to the regular season, the Duncan, BC native has earned points in each of his last five games and 10 of his last 11 contests.
Allowing just one goal in each of the last three games of this Interior Conference Quarter Final series, Kaeden Lane has been rock solid between the pipes for Penticton. The University of Northern Michigan commit has posted the second-best goals against average (1.76) and save percentage (.934) of all of the qualified goaltender in the BCHL Playoffs. The Burnaby, BC native has been particularly good in the last three games of the series, registering a 1.00 GAA and a .965 SV% in that span.
The Trail Smoke Eaters enter the game on Thursday night looking to keep their season alive following a 2-1 loss to the Vees in Game #4 on home ice and trail the best-of-seven series three games to one. Corey Cunningham scored the lone goal in the game for Trail while Cole Tisdale made 35 saves on 37 shots in his 3rd loss of the playoffs.
Smoke Eaters Regular Season Leading Scorers:
Brady Hunter (21-35-56)
Zach Michaelis (28-24-52)
Teddy Lagerback (25-24-49)
Quinn Disher (14-27-41)
Coalson Wolford (12-20-32)
Smoke Eaters Playoff Leading Scorers:
Ethan Warrener (0-3-3)
Corey Cunningham (2-0-2)
Teddy Lagerback (2-0-2)
Zach Michaelis (1-1-2)
Charlie Strobel (1-1-2)
Just as Lane has been strong in net for the Vees, Tisdale has been equally as strong for the Smoke Eaters, coming into Game #5 with a 3.04 GAA and a .917 SV% in the series. The Lethbridge, Alberta native was particularly good while in Trail, surrendering just four goals in the two games combined and also turned away 66 of the 70 shots he faced in the two games at Cominco Arena.
The Vees will look to punch their ticket into the next round with a win on Thursday as the Interior Conference Quarter Final series shifts back to Penticton for Game #5 against the Trail Smoke Eaters. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM on Thursday night from the South Okanagan Events Centre. Tickets are available for purchase at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC as well as online at valleyfirstix.com.
