Game Preview: GM #5 Vees at Vernon Vipers
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 6:00 pm PDT
Location: Kal-Tire Place
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
October 5th, Penticton at Vernon
October 26th, Vernon at Penticton
November 23rd, Vernon at Penticton
February 7th, Vernon at Penticton
February 15th, Penticton at Vernon
March 15th, Penticton at Vernon
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: GP 5, 4-1-0-0, 8 PTS
Last Game: 5-1 win vs Okotoks, October 4
Home: 1-0-0-0
Away: 3-1-0-0
GF: 19
GA: 11
Power Play: 4 / 19 (21.1%) 11th in BCHL
Penalty Kill: 12/ 16 (75.0%) 13th in BCHL
Scoring Leader: Anselmo Rego (2-5-7)
The Vees began their weekend last night with a convincing 5-1 victory over the Okotoks Oilers in their Home Opener. They got a pair of goals from Max Heise as well as singles from Luke Posthumus, Landon Wright and Nolan Stevenson. Will Ingemann made 21 saves in the crease. Contributions came from up and down the lineup for Penticton with Simon Meier, Anselmo Rego and Zach Nyman all recording multiple assists in the win.
It was exactly the type of game Penticton’s coaching staff hoped to see coming off a weekend split in Alberta. With a very heavy travel schedule in September and October, the Vees finally had some practice time at home this week to work as a group. One area they sought improvement in was special teams, both of which were much improved on Friday night at the SOEC.
The power play showed a marked improvement in particular, scoring three times on seven opportunities in the win over Okotoks. Max Heise scored a pair of power play goals and Nolan Stevenson added one as well to propel Penticton to victory. After struggling in their first four games to take advantage of their power play opportunities, Penticton was able to move the puck with conviction and purpose on Friday night, and it paid off in spades.
They now turn their attention to their longest and fiercest rival when they visit Kal Tire Place and the Vernon Vipers on Saturday night. After a pre-season game that possessed some heat leftover from the 2024 playoffs, it’s already evident that the two sides are not friendly and that one of the BCHL’s oldest rivalries is alive and well.
Saturday, is the return of Jason McKee to Vernon. The Vees’ Assistant Coach faces the team he coached for four seasons, before landing in Penticton this summer. Hi return will certainly add some intrigue to the rivalry.
Vernon Vipers
Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations: Lukas Lomicky
2024-25: GP 5 0-4-1-0, 1 PTS
Last Game: 4-0 loss at Salmon Arm, October 4th
Home: 0-0-1-0
Away: 0-4-0-0
GF: 8
GA: 21
Power Play: 3/16 (18.8%, 13th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 12/18 (66.7%, 17th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Will Schumacker (2-2-4)
It’s been a tumultuous start to the season for the Vipers, who still find themselves looking for their first victory coming into Saturday night when they host the Vees. They began their weekend with a 4-0 defeat at Rogers Rink in Salmon Arm on Friday, as the Silverbacks scored three times in the third period to put things out of reach.
A young Vipers’ team sits 0-4-1-0 through their first five contests, sitting uncharacteristically near the bottom of the BCHL’s Interior Conference. The Vipers have clearly struggled to score in the early part of the season, scoring just eight times in five contests.
Goaltending duties for the Vipers have been shared through five contests, and it looks to be the turn of 19-year-old Colin Reay between the pipes for Vernon on Saturday. He’ll look to backstop the Vipers to their first win of the season in just their second home game as they look for some traction and stability to get the early part of their season on the right track.