Photo credit: Cherie Morgan Photography
Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (10-6-1-2) will play three games per week in each of the next four weeks, but the busiest portion of that stretch begins Wednesday when they travel to play the Vernon Vipers (8-6-4-2).
The Vees are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena in Prince George against the Spruce Kings on Saturday. Ryan Sandelin and James Miller scored in regulation while Derek Krall made 26 saves in the loss.
Miller’s goal tied the game just 26 seconds after the Spruce Kings had taken a third-period lead, but Spruce Kings captain Ben Poisson notched his second of the game in overtime to seal the win.
Vernon was also on the road last weekend, splitting a pair of games against Mainland Division opponents. Friday the Vipers were knocked off by the upstart Coquitlam Express 4-1. Vernon took seven penalties that night, and were also denied on a second period penalty shot by the captain Jagger Williamson, which would have cut Coquitlam’s lead to 2-1.
The next night Vernon played the Langley Rivermen at the George Preston Arena, leaving with a 5-1 win. Teddy Wooding scored twice while Aidan Porter had to make just 19 saves for the win.
The weekend split keeps the Interior Division as congested as it has been for weeks, with seven points separating the first place West Kelowna Warriors from the seventh place Trail Smoke Eaters. Penticton sits third with 23 points while Vernon is right behind them with 22, though the Vees have a game in hand.
Wednesday’s game will be the third meeting of the season between the two long-standing rivals with both teams earning a victory so far. October 5, Jack Lafontaine made just 13 saves as the Vees handled the Vipers in a 3-0 victory at home.
The very next night, Penticton played with a shortened bench and came close in a 2-1 loss. Kenny Johnson had the lone goal, a shorthanded marker in the second period.
Wednesday’s game marks the beginning of the busiest stretch of the season of the Vees. Following the game the Vees have home games Friday and Saturday, and next week will play Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Over the next 25 days Penticton will play 12 games, six at home and six on the road.
Team Statistics
Leading Scorers
Penticton Vees
David Silye – 7G 19A 19GP
Eric Linell – 11G 12A 21GP
James Miller – 9G 10A 19GP
Vernon Vipers
Jack Judson – 3G 13A 20GP
Jagger Williamson – 5G 9A 15GP
Josh Latta – 6G 7A 17GP
Special Teams
Penticton Vees
Power Play – 17.0 per cent (12th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill – 82.9 per cent (9th in BCHL)
Vernon Vipers
Power Play – 21.7 per cent (2nd in BCHL)
Penalty Kill – 82.9 per cent (8th in BCHL)
Season Series
October 5, 2018 – Vees 3 vs Vipers 0 Boxscore
October 6, 2018 – Vees 1 @ Vipers 2 Boxscore
November 7, 2018 – Vees @ Vipers
December 19, 2018 – Vees vs Vipers
February 8, 2019 – Vees vs Vipers
February 9, 2019 – Vees @ Vipers
