Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (22-11-1-2) picked up a hard-fought 2-1 over the Vernon Vipers Wednesday night, and now face a stiff test in their final games of the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule as they host the West Kelowna Warriors (22-14-0-1) to kick off a home-and-home series.
Wednesday, Luke Loheit scored with just 53 seconds left in regulation to lift Penticton to a 2-1 victory. The final shots were 37-24 in favour of the Vees, who were the stronger team from the drop of the puck but had a hard time solving Bradley Cooper in the Vipers crease.
Lukas Sillinger also scored for the Vees, his first goal since October 10 after missing 20 games with an injury before returning for one game and receiving a four-game suspension for a blow to the head major.
Jack LaFontaine picked up his 17th win of the season, coming up with 23 saves including a number of big ones with the Vees ahead just 1-0.
The Warriors come to Penticton on the strength of a four-game winning streak, having racked up 19 goals over that span. The Warriors 5-2 record in the month of December has vaulted them two 45 points on the season, just two behind the Vees for first in the Interior Division.
This weekend will wrap up the season series between the two teams as they’ve already matched up four times. The Warriors won the first three by scores of 3-2, 5-3 and 3-1. Warriors goaltender Brock Baier turned in stellar performances in two of those games, stealing wins for West Kelowna.
He wasn’t so sharp in the most recent meeting November 14, as he lasted just 7:33 before being lifted in favour of Conner Hopkins as he gave up three goals on just seven shots. The Vees would go on to win 7-4 with Ryan Sandelin leading the way with two goals and two assists.
There will be a special event following the game as Cassidy Bowes and long-time season ticket holder Jon Race will come onto the ice and have their hair cut and shaved respectively.
Bowes has been raising money for children’s cancer research through GoFundMe and cash donations, and will be ending his fundraising early as the Canadian Cancer Society is ending their hair donation program as of December 31.
The Canadian Cancer society will be on hand to give out tax receipts to anyone who chooses to donate during the game, and fans are encouraged to stay in the rink to watch Bowes’ hair be cut off.
Team Statistics
Leading Scorers
Penticton Vees
James Miller – 15G 29A 36GP
Eric Linell – 20G 21A 38GP
David Silye – 13G 28A 31GP
West Kelowna Warriors
Mike Hardman – 26G 20A 37GP
Willie Reim – 17G 26A 36GP
Chase Dubois – 15G 28A 37GP
Special Teams
Penticton Vees
Power Play – 19.5 per cent (7th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill – 83.2 per cent (5th in BCHL)
West Kelowna Warriors
Power Play – 21.0 per cent (3rd in BCHL)
Penalty Kill – 81.6 per cent (9th in BCHL)
Season Series
October 19, 2018 – Vees 2 @ Warriors 3 Boxscore
October 27, 2018 – Vees 3 vs Warriors 5 Boxscore
November 13, 2018 – Vees 1 @ Warriors 3 Boxscore
November 14, 2018 – Vees 7 vs Warriors 4 Boxscore
December 21, 2018 – Vees vs Warriors
December 22, 2018 – Vees @ Warriors
