Game Preview: GM #11 Vees at Spruce Grove Saints
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 1:00 pm PDT
Location: Grant Fuhr Arena, Spruce Grove, AB
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
September 20th, Penticton 3 @ Spruce Grove 2
October 20th, Penticton @ Spruce Grove
February 28th, Spruce Grove @ Penticton
March 14th, Spruce Grove @ Penticton
Penticton Vees
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: GP 10, 8-2-0-0, 16 PTS (4th, Interior Conference)
Last Game: 6-4 Loss @ Sherwood Park (October 19)
Home: 3-0-0-0
Away: 5-2-0-0
GF: 42
GA: 27
Power Play: (12 / 36) 33.3%, 3rd in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: (20/ 28 ) 71.4%, 17th in BCHL
Scoring Leader: Anselmo Rego (3-9-12)
Penticton saw a seven-game winning streak snap on Saturday night as they fell in a heartbreaker to the Sherwood Park Crusaders. The Crusaders scored on their first shot of the contest and the Vees chased all night, culimating in a comeback attempt being completed with 2:55 to play in the third. However, it took just 22 seconds for the Crusaders to retake the lead and hand the Vees their first loss since September 27th in Brooks.
Penticton now turn their attention to the Spruce Grove Saints, a team Penticton last saw on the opening night of the BCHL season on September 20th. They won the opening contest by a 3-2 count as Landon Wright scored in the final two minutes to send the Vees to victory.
Sunday’s game will require the rest of the gas that’s in the tank for the Vees, so to speak, who will be playing their fourth game in six days all on the road. It ends a challenging travel schedule through the first full month of the season for Penticton, who has been to Alberta three times early in the young BCHL season.
After both goalies saw action Saturday, the Vees will start 18-year-old Sharky Nowek this afternoon. The Penticton, B.C., product is making just his second career start and his first this season. A great opportunity for the youngster to make a case to see more action in the Vees goaltending rotation.
Penticton was dealt more bad news when it comes to injuries, as 20-year-old defenceman Michael Fisher will miss several weeks with a broken hand. Fisher sustained the injury in the second period of last night’s game. The Vees are now without two 20-year-old defencemen on the blue line, as Matthew Biotti is still several weeks away from returning, after sustaining an upper-body injury against Brooks on September 27th. 18-year-old rookie defenceman Logan bates will suit up for his third game of the season today.
Ryden Evers extended his point streak to five games with an assist last night. The 19-year-old now is tied with Anselmo Rego for the team scoring lead with 12 points. Captain Conyr Hellyer is heating up. Last night, was Hellyer’s second-straight three-point game. He now has points in five straight games too.
Spruce Grove Saints
Head Coach: Ryan Marsh
2024-25: GP 10 3-6-1-0, 7 PT (8th, Interior Conference)
Last Game: 5-2 win at Surrey, October 18th
Home: 1-4-1-0
Away: 2-2-0-0
GF: 30
GA: 44
Power Play: 7/33 (21.2%, 10th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 25/31 (80.6%, 8th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Josh Polak (5-5-10)
The Saints sat idle Saturday night after a road heavy week of their own at the BCHL Showcase. They played their two showcase games, losing to Coquitlam and Chilliwack, before playing a game against Surrey on Friday, where they earned themselves a 5-2 win.
Home ice hasn’t exactly been an advantage for the Saints in the early part of the BCHL season, as they’ve collected just a single win in five games. Spruce Grove finds themselves in the middle of the pack in most BCHL categories, but goals against have been a problem through 10 games. Their team goals against average sits at 4.40 heading into Sunday’s matinee at Grant Fuhr Arena.
Josh Polak leads the Saints in scoring through their first 10 games with five goals and five assists. The 17-year-old from Strathcona County, Alberta had three points (1-2-3) in Friday’s 5-2 win over Surrey on the road and was named the game’s second star.
Puck drop is set for 1:00pm PDT from Grant Fuhr Arena in Spruce Grove as Penticton looks to finish a road heavy week with a win. You can follow all the action live on FloHockey or locally on radio thanks to the official broadcast partners of the Penticton Vees, Bounce 800AM.