BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: South Okanagan Events Centre
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
| Season Series | Playoff Series |
| Oct. 11 Prince George 2 at Penticton 5 | GM 1: Prince George 0 at Penticton 3 |
| Nov. 17 Prince George 1 at Penticton 8 | GM 2 Apr. 6 Prince George at Penticton |
| Dec. 1 Prince George 0 at Penticton 4 | GM 3 Apr. 9 Penticton at Prince George |
| Jan. 5 Penticton 4 at Prince George 7 | GM 3 Apr. 10 Penticton at Prince George |
| Jan. 6 Penticton 3 at Prince George 1 | *GM 5 Apr. 12 Prince George at Penticton |
| Feb. 10 Prince George 0 at Penticton 8 | *GM 6 Apr. 14 Penticton at Prince George |
| *GM 7 Apr. 16 Prince George at Penticton | |
| * If Necessary |
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
Regular Season Record : GP 1 1-0
Last Game: 3-0 Win vs. Prince George (April 5)
Home: 1-0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0-0
GF: 3
GA: 0
Power Play: (0/1) 0.00%
Penalty Kill: (2/2) 100%
Scoring Leader: Brock Reinhart (0-2-2)
The Vees opened the 2024 BCHL Playoffs on Friday night with a win, blanking the Prince George Spruce Kings 3-0 in Game One at the SOEC.
After losing four of five on home ice to close the regular season, the Vees were focused on a fresh start Friday. Anselmo Rego opened the scoring in the first, followed by Francesco Dell ‘Ellce and Zack Stringer scoring three minutes apart in the second, as the Vees jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Will Ingemann took care of the rest, picking up a 20-save shutout in the win. For Ingemann, including the regular season, it was his seventh shutout in 33 appearances in his rookie campaign.
The Vees picked up a Game One victory in front of an energetic crowd at the SOEC and now turn their attention to Game Two hoping for much of the same. Penticton looks for a 2-0 series lead tonight.
Andrew Ness likely takes his turn in the goaltending rotation and is the projected starter for tonight’s Game Two. James Fisher will return from a one game suspension and draw into the Vees lineup for his first BCHL Playoff game. Lucas Sorace returned to the line-up last night after missing the previous week due to injury.
Including the regular season, the Vees are 5-0 at the SOEC this season against Prince George and have outscored them 28-3 in those five games. Penticton has shutout the Spruce Kings in three of those five games.
Prince George Spruce Kings
GM: Mike Hawes
Head Coach: Alex Evin
Regular Season Record : GP 1 0-1-0-0
Last Game: 3-0 loss at Penticton (April 5)
Home: 0-0-0-0
Away: 0-1-0-0
GF: 0
GA: 3
Power Play: 0/2 0%
Penalty Kill: 1/1 100.00%
Scoring Leader: N/A
The Spruce Kings got off to a good start Friday night in Game One, playing a solid first period on the road. They at one point held a 5-0 shot advantage early in the first period but failed to cash in on an early powerplay to take the lead. Instead, they found themselves trailing after the first frame and couldn’t recover.
Charlie Zolin was the starter in Game One and is projected to start a second consecutive game on Saturday night. During Friday’s game the Spruce Kings only used five defensemen, with their top pair of Kai Greaves and Aiden Souligny playing heavy minutes. Greaves played over 32 minutes in Friday’s loss.
The Spruce Kings know they need just the split, before heading home to Kopar Memorial Arena in Prince George for Games Three and Four starting Tuesday. They will need to find a way to penetrate the Vees. Prince George has only scored three goals in five games at the SOEC this season.
Puck drop for Game Two on Saturday goes at 7:00 pm at the South Okanagan Events Centre. You can catch all the action live on Bounce AM 800 and Flo Hockey, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 pm.
