Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (9-5-2) got one player back on the injury front Friday night as Luke Loheit played after missing eight games and helped the Vees beat the Merritt Centennials 6-1. Now the Vees will see their captain, Massimo Rizzo, suit up for the first time this year when they host the West Kelowna Warriors (9-7-1).
Friday night, James Miller scored a hat trick to lead the Vees to the 6-1 victory. Much like the first two meetings between Penticton and Merritt, the Vees had a big lead after the first 20 minutes with a 3-0 advantage.
Eric Linell scored a shorthanded goal 4:40 into the second and Miller completed the hat trick four minutes later as the Vees cruised to victory. Jack LaFontaine finished with 32 saves in net.
The Warriors were also in action last night, hosting and beating the Salmon Arm Silverbacks by a score of 4-1. The Warriors got goals from four different players and a 35 save performance from Brock Baier in the win.
Baier was instrumental in the Warriors win over the Vees last weekend as he made an astounding 52 saves in the 3-2 Warriors victory. All five of the goals came in the first period that night, with Linell contributing both of them for Penticton.
This will be just the second matchup of the year between the two Interior Division rivals as they will finish off their season series before the calendar flips over to 2019.
The Vees lineup will get a major boost Saturday night as Massimo Rizzo will make season debut after missing the first 16 games of the season recovering from an injury. Rizzo, 17, scored 13 goals with 26 assists as a rookie last season.
The Vees will also get Kenny Johnson back from suspension as he finished serving his three game suspension Friday night.
Saturday is the annual Trick-Or-Suite night at the SOEC, children 12 and under in costume can trick-or-treat on suite level during the first intermission.
Team Statistics
Leading Scorers
Penticton Vees
David Silye – 6G 17A 16GP
James Miller – 8G 9A 16GP
Ryan Sandelin – 9G 6A 16GP
West Kelowna Warriors
Willie Reim – 9G 12A 16GP
Max Bulawka – 5G 12A 17GP
Mike Hardman – 10G 6A 17GP
Special Teams
Penticton Vees
Power play – 16.9 per cent (14th in BCHL)
Penalty kill – 82.3 per cent (8th in BCHL)
West Kelowna Warriors
Power play – 20.0 per cent (5th in BCHL)
Penalty kill – 80.0 per cent (12th in BCHL)
Season Series
October 19, 2018 – Vees 2 @ Warriors 3 Boxscore
October 27, 2018 – Vees vs Warriors
November 13, 2018 – Vees @ Warriors
November 14, 2018 – Vees vs Warriors
December 21, 2018 – Vees vs Warriors
December 22, 2018 – Vees @ Warriors
