When: 7pm
Where: SOEC
Listen: EZ Rock AM 800
Watch: Fasthockey PPV
Two Interior Division rivals renew hostilities tonight, as the Penticton Vees host the West Kelowna Warriors at the SOEC. The two teams come into tonight’s match up sporting identical 9-3-0-1 records and are tied on points atop of the Interior Division. This is the first of seven meetings between the Vees and Warriors and first of three at the SOEC.
Tonight the Vees are looking to start another win streak, after they were tripped up by the Merritt Centennials in double-overtime 3-2 Wednesday; the loss snapping the Vees three game win streak. Travis Blanleil and Anthony Conti staked the home side out to a two goal lead midway through the second, but the Cents’ used the power-play to comeback and draw even to force overtime. Nothing was settled in the four-on-four period, despite the Cents’ having a full two minute four-on-three power-play. With the teams skating three aside, Shane Poulsen completed the comeback for Merritt, scoring 3:53 into the fifth period, and in doing so, saddling the Vees with their first loss at home this season.
The Warriors, like the Vees, are looking to get back in the win column after they had a three game win streak of their own come to an end. Six days ago the Tribe were upended by the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings 3-2 at Royal LePage Place. The road has been kind to West Kelowna thus far, as they sport a tidy 5-1-0-1 record, and have won their last two games away from RLP.
The Vees get some welcome news tonight in regards to their line-up, as Cam Amantea will dress tonight against the Warriors. Amantea has been out of the Vees line-up for the past five games recovering from an upper-body injury. Before his injury, Amantea was off to a great start, picking up three goals and seven points in his first eight games. The only other news regarding the Vees line-up comes in goal, as Olivier Mantha gets the start between the pipes. Mantha is a perfect 2-0-0 at home this season, posting two shutouts, as he’s stopped all 41 shots he’s faced at the SOEC.
As mentioned, the Warriors are off to a hot start and their buoyed by a potent offensive attack. Six players have 10 or more points and six have five or more goals. Ambrose Firkus leads the way with five goals and 16 points but there’s a log-jam right behind him. Three players are tied for second in team scoring with 14 points in Jordan Masters (7-7-14), Seb Lloyd (5-9-14) and Carl Hesler (3-11-14). Goalie Andy Desautels has played nearly every minute of every game so far for the Tribe and likely gets the call between the pipes again tonight.
