VICTORIA GRIZZLIES (5-3-0-1) at PENTICTON VEES (9-1-0-0)
GAME TIME: 6 p.m.
VENUE: SOEC
LISTEN: EZ ROCK AM 800
WATCH: Fasthockey Pay-Per-View
SEASON SERIES:
OCT 18TH: Grizzlies at Vees NOV 7TH: Vees at Grizzlies
VEES HOME RECORD: 4-0-0-0
VEES RECORD VS ISLAND DIVISION: 1-0-0-0
VEES STREAK: Six wins
VEES TOP SCORER: Tyson Jost (6-7-13)
GRIZZLIES ROAD RECORD: 3-2-0-0
GRIZZLIES RECORD VS INTERIOR DIVISION: 2-0-0-0
GRIZZLIES STREAK: One win
GRIZZLIES TOP SCORER: Dane Gibson (2-8-10)
The Penticton Vees are in search of their seventh straight win Saturday, when they host the Victoria Grizzlies at the SOEC. The Vees won their sixth in a row Friday in Vernon, downing the Vipers 3-1 at Kal-Tire Place. Also the Vees are a perfect 4-0-0-0* at home and 3-0-0-0 at the SOEC.
*One home win at the Bauer BCHL Showcase.
The Grizzlies are coming off a win as well on Friday, as they went into Salmon Arm and edged the Silverbacks 3-2 at the Shaw Centre. Friday was the first of a three-game Interior Division road trip for the Grizz, who wrap up their weekend tomorrow afternoon in Merritt.
Demico Hannoun scored twice for the Vees Friday, including the game-winner midway through the second period. Matt Serratore added an empty-net goal in the dying moments of the third period. Hunter Miska was terrific on Friday, winning his fifth straight start, stopping 32 of 33 Viper shots.
Tonight is the Vees second game against an Island Division opponent and first non-divisional gam since September 20th. On that day, the Vees posted a 4-3 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at the Bauer BCHL Showcase. Tonight marks the first of two straight non-divisional games for the Vees, as they are in Prince George to face the Spruce Kings next Thursday.
The Vees will ice the same line-up tonight as they did on Friday night in Vernon. Co-Captains Cody DePourcq and Patrick Sexton remain out of the line-up as they recover from upper-body injuries. Hunter Miska gets the start once again in goal.
Vees Notes:
- The Vees had their way with the Island Division last year, posting a 9-2-0-1 record.
- The Vees won two of three last year against Victoria. They took a 2-1 decision at the Bauer BCHL Showcase and a 3-2 victory in Victoria in February.
- Victoria's last visit to the SOEC was back on February 15th. The Grizz posted a 3-1 win over the Vees.
- Demico Hannoun is riding a six-game point streak heading into tonight's action. Hannoun has seven goals and 11 points during the streak.
- Speaking of streaks, Tyson Jost's first period assist Friday, extended his point streak to six games; he has three goals and seven points during that stretch.
- Quietly, Riley Alferd has gone about putting together a five-game point’s streak. His assist Friday gives him four goals and seven points over the five games.
The Grizzlies clawed out a 3-2 win in tight contest in Salmon Arm Friday. Tied 1-1 to start the third, the Grizzlies scored twice on goals from Captain Shawn McBride and Brett Gruber to build a 3-1 lead. The Silverbacks made a game of it late, as Colton Thibault scored inside the final two minutes. Rookie netminder Sean Clearly got the win between the pipes, stopping 28 of 30 shots.
The Grizzlies are playing somewhat short-handed as newly acquired defenseman Jake Emilo was put on the 30-day injured reserve yesterday, for what is described as a lower-body injury.
Victoria is playing some good hockey of late, as they're 3-1-0-1 in the month of October and have won three of their last four games. Their only regulation loss this month was a 4-3 decision at home against Nanaimo last Saturday.
No, they don't have the Fitzgerald triplets anymore, as the three brothers have graduated from the BCHL and are currently playing at Bemidji State University. Those three accounted for most of the Grizzlies offense last year. This season, it's more of scoring by committee approach for the Grizz, as they have eight players with five or more points. The top three in team scoring are all returnees, as Dane Gibson leads the pack with 10 points, followed by Garrett Forester (4-4-8) and Jay Mackie (2-6-8).
There's also a new face behind the bench, as Brad Knight is in his first season as a BCHL bench boss. Victoria split the season with two Head Coaches last year, as Bill Bestwick was replaced by Craig Didmond midway through the season.
