Two Interior foes renew a heated rivalry tonight at the SOEC, as the Penticton Vees (31-11-0-3) host the Merritt Centennials (25-13-2-3) at 7pm. The two teams meet for the first time since January 4th which was in Merritt; the Cents’ skating away with a 4-2 victory. The two have split the first four games in the season series, as each team has won once at home and once on the road.
When the teams last met the Vees weren’t playing with a full deck of cards, as they had six regulars out of the line-up due to injury and suspension. That’s been a bit of a theme for the Vees since late October, as the Vees haven’t played with a full line-up since October 27th. Tonight the Vees are nearing a “healthy” roster, as both Rob Mann and Ryan Gropp will suit up. Mann hasn`t played in what seems like forever, well December 15th to be exact; a run of 12 games. Gropp has been sidelined since going down with an upper-body injury in the third period of the Vees 3-1 over Vernon back on January 25th.
The Vees still have a couple absentees, as Mike Rebry (suspension) and Brayden Park (injury) will once again be on the sidelines. Rebry is serving his second game of a five-game ban for his involvement in a dust-up with the West Kelowna Warriors back on January 26th. Park sustained a lower-body injury during that game and is listed as day-to-day.
Despite the revolving door that is their line-up, the Vees have rattled off seven straight wins, a BCHL best and look to push that streak to eight tonight. The Vees are coming off a 11-0 romp over the Coquitlam Express, a game highlighted by Wade Murphy`s seven point performance; a personal best. 13 Vees recorded at least a single point in the win and eight players had multiple points. The Vees have won their last three home games, outscoring their opponent by a 19-4 margin.
Cody DePourcq enters tonight`s contest with a five game goal streak dating back to January 20th. The Penticton product has six goals during his streak and 11 on the season. Back to Wade Murphy, who seems to be finding his scoring touch once again. Murphy has four goals and 11 points in his last five games, that after going pointless in five straight.
The Merritt Centennials have hit a bit of a speed bump in February, as they`re winless in their last two games. The Cents are coming off a 2-2 tie at home on Tuesday with the Vernon Vipers, a game in which saw them relinquish a two goal lead in the second period. One game prior to that the Cents dropped a 5-3 decision at home to the Nanaimo Clippers. Merritt enters tonight`s game 10 points back of the Vees in the Interior Division but have two games in hand. Probable starter Tyler Steel is 2-2 this season against the Vees with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .862 save-percentage.
Tonight is the fifth of seven regular season meetings between these two conference foes. The two meet again on February 16th in Merritt; season series concludes on February 22nd at the SOEC.
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