Where: SOEC
When: 7pm
Opponent: Vernon Vipers
Listen Live: EZ ROCK AM 800
Watch: Fasthockey
Cheap tickets, cheap beer and a car giveaway! That’s all happening tonight at the SOEC and oh yeah, a pretty important hockey game too, as the Penticton Vees host the Vernon Vipers with top spot in the Interior Division at stake. The Vees (14-5-1-2) are coming off a 5-3 loss to the Nanaimo Clippers last Saturday, despite peppering the Nanaimo net with 45 shots. The Vipers (13-6-2-4) picked up a 5-1 win Sunday afternoon at home over the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
This is the third of seven meetings between these two Okanagan rivals and second at the SOEC. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series, with both teams winning on home ice. The Vipers took the first encounter back on September 25th 3-1 and one month later, the Vees edged the Vipers 6-5 in a thrilling double-overtime win.
The Vees come into tonight’s match up one point back of the Vipers for top spot in the Interior. As of today, the Vipers and Centennials have 32 points and a share of first in the Division; the Vees sit on 31 points but have three games in hand on the snakes. A Vees win and they have sole possession of first in the Interior and will still be three games up on Vernon and Merritt.
The Vees are likely to ice the same line-up we saw Saturday with one exception and that’s in-goal, where Hunter Miska will get the start. The 18 year-old won his last start, a 6-3 ‘W’ in West Kelowna last Friday and is 6-2-1-2 on the year, with a 2.18 goals-against average and .922 save-percentage. Miska has faced Vernon, as he took the loss back on September 25th, stopping 24 of 27 shots.
Penticton is looking to get on a roll and make some headway in their Division, as they’ve alternated wins and losses going back to October 16th. In their last ten games, the Vees are 5-2-1-2 and haven’t won back-to-back games since October 11th and 12th. The good news? They’re 5-1-0 after a loss this season and have outscored their opponents 25-14 in those six games. They know how to bounce back but the coaching staff would like to see this group string a few wins together going into December.
The Vipers are playing some good hockey as well, as they’re unbeaten in regulation in their last six and are 9-2-2-2 in their last 15 games. Michael McNicholas leads the way upfront with 31 points, just one back of the Vees Brad McClure for second in the BCHL scoring race. Like the Vees, the Vipers have been rotating their goalies, as the Vees have faced both Austin Smith (4-3-2) and Danny Todosychuk (8-5-0).
A reminder, get your car raffle tickets at the top of stairs in the BC Hockey Hall of Fame hallway. Ticket sale cut-off is the one minute media timeout in the second period. Raffle tickets for the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier are just $2! (Donated by Huber Bannister Chevrolet)
