Game Preview: GM #4 Vees at Blackfalds Bulldogs
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 5:00 pm PDT
Location: Eagle Builders Centre, Blackfalds, AB
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
September 28, Penticton at Blackfalds
November 1, Blackfalds at Penticton
December 28, Blackfalds at Penticton
January 25, Penticton at Blackfalds
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: GP 3 2-1-0-0, 4 PTS
Last Game: 4-1 loss at Brooks, September 27
Home: 0-0-0-0
Away: 2-1-0-0
GF: 10
GA: 9
Power Play: 1 / 9 (11.1%, 16th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 3/ 13 (76.9%, 13th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Landon Wright (3-1-4)
Penticton suffered their first loss of the new season on Friday, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Brooks Bandits at Centennial Regional Arena.
The Vees were down 1-0 after 20 minutes and it stayed that way until early in the third when the Bandits scored back-to-back goals to go up 3-0. Penticton’s only goal came from Matthew Cataldo midway through the final frame.
Penticton was held to just 21 shots in Friday’s loss, including only four in the third period.
Cataldo is off to a great start to his rookie campaign. He has three points (2G, 1A) in three games, as he has at least a point in every game this season. Linemate Anselmo Rego (2G, 2A) is also feeling it early, as the second year forward had an assist in the game Friday. He too has points in every game this season.
Some good news and bad news on the blueline ahead of Saturday’s game. 20-year-old defenceman Michael Fisher returns to the lineup after serving his one-game suspension. The San Jose Sharks draft pick’s return could not have come at a better time. Fellow 20-year-old defenceman Matthew Biotti suffered an upper-body injury last night and will miss tonight’s game. His status going forward is to be determined.
Andrew Ness makes his first start of the season, after he relief appearance last night in Brooks. Ness played 11 minutes of the third and stopped all five shots he faced.
Penticton is looking to go 3-1 on their four-game Alberta road trip to start the season. After tonight, it’s their home opener against the Okotoks Oilers on October 4th.
Blackfalds Bulldogs
President & Head Coach: Doug Quinn
2024-25: GP 2 0-2-0-0, 0 PTS
Last Game: 7-2 loss vs. Spruce Grove, September 21
Home: 0-2-0-0
Away: 0-0-0-0
GF: 5
GA: 14
Power Play: 0/8 (0%, 21st in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 7/13 (46.2%, 21st in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Parker Lalonde (3-3-6)
Blackfalds didn’t get off to the start they wanted last weekend at home, as they lost both games at Eagle Builders Centre to Sherwood Park and Spruce Grove.
Friday, in their home opener, the Bulldogs lost 7-3 to the Crusaders. A night later they surrendered another seven goals in their 7-2 loss to the Saints.
President & Head Coach, Doug Quinn, made a move this week to address that issue, as he traded for goaltender Ian Mills from the Brooks Bandits for future considerations.
Special teams have also been a bit of an issue out of the gate. In their first two games, the Bulldogs rank last both in power play and penalty kill. They have given up seven power play goals in two games.
Four players are back from last year’s squad that finished third in the Alberta Division with a 39-22-6-1 record. They also added some junior experience in the form of former AJHL players in Joey Melo (Whitecourt), Matthew Ronn (Whitecourt), and Jack McAra (Bonnyville). Blackfalds also added Aidan Castle from the Memorial Cup champions Saginaw Spirit.