PHOTO: Garrett James
The Penticton Vees (21-4-0-1) open their 2022 schedule and begin the calendar year with the fourth straight game against the West Kelowna Warriors (17-10-0-0) on New Year’s Day on Saturday night at Royal LePage Place.
2021/22 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE vs. WEST KELOWNA
Tuesday, November 23rd @ Royal LePage Place (6-3 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, December 18th @ Royal LePage Place (5-2 Warriors) (BOXSCORE)
Wednesday, December 29th @ Royal LePage Place (4-3 Warriors) (BOXSCORE)
Friday, December 31st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (3-0 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, January 1st @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
Friday, January 7th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
Wednesday, March 16th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (6:30 PM)
The Vees and Warriors meet for the fifth time this season as both teams have won a pair of games in the season series after Penticton earned a 3-0 shutout victory over West Kelowna on Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Grayson Arnott and Casey McDonald scored 1st period goals while Josh Nadeau sealed the deal with a 3rd period marker on New Year’s Eve. Carter Serhyenko collected his first BC Hockey League win and shutout on Friday night, posting 15 saves on 15 shots.
Vees Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (15-24-39)
Fin Williams (12-25-37)
Josh Nadeau (20-14-34)
Brett Moravec (13-12-25)
Bradly Nadeau (10-14-24)
Vees forward and assistant captain Luc Wilson continued his point streak with an assist on the game-winning marker for the Vees on Friday night, collecting points in five consecutive contests. The University of Minnesota-Mankato commit has scored two goals while adding seven assists for nine points over the course of his last four games while earning a point in 14 of his last 15 outings. The Duncan, BC native has vaulted his way up to 2nd in the league in scoring, potting 15 goals and adding 24 assists for 39 points on the campaign.
Casey McDonald potted his 10th goal of the season on Friday night in the Vees 3-0 triumph and became the 6th Vee to hit the double-digit mark in goals, joining Wilson, Josh Nadeau, Brett Moravec, Fin Williams and Bradly Nadeau. Penticton leads the league in players with 10+ goals with the next being four players who are in double digits as Prince George and West Kelowna are amongst those teams.
Josh Nadeau hit another milestone on Friday night, earning his 20th goal of the season and jumps into 4th place in the BCHL in terms of goal scoring with his 20 goals. The University of Maine commit is one of four players in the league with 20 markers, joining Salmon Arm’s Simon Tassy, Nanaimo’s Sean Donaldson and Victoria’s Matthew Wood as the only players in the league with 20 or more goals.
The West Kelowna Warriors come into Saturday night’s New Year’s Day matchup against the Vees after their 3-0 loss at the SOEC on Friday night. The shutout was the first of the season for the Warriors and the first time West Kelowna has been blanked in 33 games, dating back to April 26th against the Vernon Vipers. Johnny Derrick had another strong night in goal for the Warriors, turning aside 34 of the 37 shots thrown his way in his 6th loss of the season.
Warriors Leading Scorers:
Felix Trudeau (19-16-35)
Elan Bar-Lev-Wise (14-13-27)
Tyler Cristall (14-11-25)
John Evans (8-14-22)
Marcus Joughin (2-20-22)
After having to face 37 shots in their previous meeting on Friday night, Johnny Derrick may get a night off from being between the pipes in exchange for Justin Katz in the Warriors goal but the effort that Derrick has put forth over the last four games has been strong. The Victoria, BC native has posted a 2-1 record in that span while registering a 2.45 goals against average and a .917 save percentage in those four contests, three of them have come against the Vees.
The Vees and Warriors play the fifth of their seven-game season series and the fourth of five consecutive head-to-head matchups on Saturday night at Royal LePage Place. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with the game being be broadcasted live on Bounce Radio 800 as well as BCHLTV.ca beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 PM.
