Game Preview: GM #17 Vees at Salmon Arm Silverbacks
Photo: Cherie Morgan
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 6:00 pm PDT
Location: Rogers Rink, Salmon Arm, BC
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
October 11, Salmon Arm 2 at Penticton 4
November 9, Penticton at Salmon Arm
November 22, Penticton at Salmon Arm
January 10, Salmon Arm at Penticton
February 21, Penticton at Salmon Arm
March 29, Salmon Arm at Penticton
Penticton Vees
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: GP 16, 11-5-0-0, 22 PTS (3rd , Interior Conference)
Last Game: 3-0 loss at West Kelowna, November 5th
Home: 5-1-0-0
Away: 6-4-0-0
GF: 58
GA: 47
Power Play: 15/59 (25.4%, 4th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 11/45 (75.6%, 19th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Ryden Evers (6-8-14)
The Vees look to snap a two-game losing streak Saturday, as they head to Rogers Rink in Salmon Arm for the first time this season. It’s the second meeting of the regular season between the Vees and Silverbacks, with Penticton winning 4-2 win on October 11th. The rivalry has heated up substantially the last two seasons, thanks to back-to-back Interior Conference Final playoff series.
Manufacturing offence has been challenging of late and has been a role in back-to-back losses. Penticton has scored just two goals in their last two games, and if you include their game against Blackfalds on November 1st, the Vees have scored just three goals in their last eight periods.
The power play, after a red-hot October, has cooled off significantly in early November. The Vees’ power play is 1-15 in its last three games. This after the power play scored in all but two games in October. Penticton’s power play has also conceded shorthanded goals in back-to-back games. Their special teams certainly misses the presence of 20-year-olds Conyr Hellyer, Michael Fisher, and Matthew Biotti.
Penticton will be focusing on their start in Salmon Arm. The Vees have given up the first goal in four of their last five games. In fact, the Vees have only scored first in seven of their first 16 games. Compounding slow starts, is the fact the Vees have gone down by two or more goals in all but one of their last five games. Playing from behind that much is taxing.
Louie Wehmann made his Vees debut last Tuesday night against the Warriors, logging minutes on the top line alongside Anselmo Rego and Ryden Evers after a long travel day in from the United States. The 18-year-old looked solid in his debut, displaying a mix of size, speed and grit that will be a welcome addition to the current forward group.
Will Ingemann is the expected starter Saturday night in Salmon Arm. Ingemann has either started or appeared in 12 of 16 games this season. He owns a 7-4 record, to go along with a 3.02 goals-against average and .885 save percentage. Ingemann beat the Silverbacks back on October 11th.
The Vees sit two points back of the Silverbacks for second place in the Interior Conference entering Saturday’s game.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks
General Manager & Head Coach: Tyler Shattock
2024-25: GP 16 11-3-2-0, 24 PTS (2nd, Interior Conference)
Last Game: 6-2 win Vs Sherwood Park, November 8th
Home: 6-1-1-0
Away: 5-2-1-0
GF: 48
GA: 30
Power Play: 8/44 (18.2%, 15th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 32/43 (74.4%, 20th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Maddux Martin (6-7-13)
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks enter Saturday’s game on a winning note, as they beat the Sherwood Park Crusaders by a 6-2 score on Friday at home. Winners of three straight, the ‘Backs sit in sole possession of second place in the Interior Conference standings.
Led up front by Captain and Salmon Arm local Maddux Martin, the Silverbacks have found ways to generate offence by committee through a quarter of their BCHL regular season schedule. 14 different skaters have registered at least a goal through 16 games, with 11 of those 14 netting two or more. As a team they don’t score much, ranking 17th of 21 BCHL teams in goals for, but they are one of the best defensive teams in the entire league.
Ryan Grout and Andrew Ballantyne form a formidable tandem in the crease for Salmon Arm, splitting duties nearly evenly through 16 games. They’ve combined to help the Silverbacks to the second-lowest goals-against average in the BCHL at 1.87, only behind the Brooks Bandits. Ballantyne got the start Friday against Sherwood Park and if they stick to the rotation it is expected Ryan Grout will draw the call in the crease Saturday against Penticton.
Puck drop is set for 6:00pm PST from Rogers Rink in Salmon Arm. You can follow all the action live on FloHockey or locally on radio beginning at 5:40pm PST thanks to the official broadcast partners of the Penticton Vees, Bounce 800AM.