Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees (7-4-1) and West Kelowna Warriors (6-7-1) meet for the first time this season Friday night at Royal LePage Place in a tale of two teams trending in opposite directions.
The Vees, winners of five of their last seven, were last in action Saturday night when they won 4-1 over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Penticton went 3/13 on the power play as the Capitals ended the game with just five players on the bench following ejections to most of their team.
James Miller and David Silye each recorded a goal and an assist in the win while Derek Krall made 18 saves for his second win of the season. As of Friday Silye sits second in BCHL scoring with 22 points. Miller’s performance capped off an impressive week for him as he was named the BCHL’s player of the week after recording three goals and three assists.
The Warriors stumbled out of the gate with a 1-3 start to the season, but then went on a four-game winning streak. Since then, however, the Warriors have dropped five of their last six including a 5-1 setback to the Chilliwack Chiefs Tuesday night.
The Warriors have been outscored 25-14 over this recent stretch and have given up 50 goals overall on the season, nearly twice as many as the Vees who sit first in the BCHL with 26 goals against, albeit in two fewer games played.
Last season Penticton took four of the six games between the two teams with both losses coming on the road. Friday’s game is the first of six meetings between the Interior Division rivals, who will finish the season series before the calendar changes over to 2019.
The Vees will host the Warriors October 27 at the SOEC before two home-and-home series, one November 13 and 14 and the final two games before the Christmas break December 21 and 22.
Team Statistics
Leading Scorers
Penticton Vees
David Silye – 6G 16A 12GP
Eric Linell – 6G 8A 14GP
James Miller – 5G 8A 12 GP
West Kelowna Warriors
Willie Reim – 8G 10A 14GP
Max Bulawka – 4G 10A 14GP
Chase Dubois – 4G 8A 14GP
Special Teams
Penticton Vees
Power play – 18.1 per cent (8th in BCHL)
Penalty kill – 84.8 per cent (6th in BCHL)
West Kelowna Warriors
Power play – 21.5 per cent (5th in BCHL)
Penalty kill – 76.3 per cent (15th in BCHL)
Season Series
October 18, 2018 – Vees @ Warriors
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
