Game Preview: GM #24 Vees at Nanaimo Clippers
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: Frank Crane Arena
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
November 30, Penticton at Nanaimo
Penticton Vees
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: GP 23, 17-6-0-0, 34 pts (3rd, Interior Conference)
Last Game: 4-3 win at Langley Rivermen, November 28
Home: 7-1-0-0
Away: 10-5-0-0
GF: 89
GA: 65
Power Play: 19/77 (24.7%, 7th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 14/62 (77.4%, 12th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Ryden Evers (10-13-23)
The Penticton Vees look for their third-straight win as they visit the Nanaimo Clippers Saturday night, at Frank Crane Arena.
The Vees have won back-to-back after their 4-3 win Thursday, against the Langley Rivermen at George Preston Arena. Ryden Evers scored the game-winner with just over five minutes left in the third period to break a 3-3 tie. Luke Posthumus scored twice in the second period and Max Heise also scored in the middle frame. Penticton trailed 1-0 after the first period, before they scored three unanswered goals. Will Ingemann earned his 11th win, as he stopped 19 of 22 shots.
Penticton makes their first visit to Nanaimo since September 29, of last year. The Vees won 4-3 in overtime in that game, as defenceman Francesco Dell’Elce scored the game-winner. The Vee shave won their last three regular season games in Nanaimo, dating back to the 2019-20 season.
The Vees will start Ethan Buenaventura in goal, as he makes his third appearance with his new team. The 20-year-old has won his first two starts, including last Saturday’s 6-4 victory against Vernon. Penticton will dress 11 forwards and six defencemen against the Clippers. Forwards Conyr Hellyer and Caton Ryan are not on the road trip due to injury. The Vees are also still missing defenceman Matthew Biotti and Michael Fisher.
Ryden Evers is playing his best hockey as a Vee. The 19-year-old has points in six of his last seven games. He has four points in his last two games. Evers has had to take on more minutes with the injuries to Hellyer and Ryan up front. Max Heise has also stepped up, as he has four goals in his last two games.
Speaking of Heise, fans can vote him into the BCHL All-Star game in Salmon Arm in January. Heise is vying for one of the final three spots and Vees’ fans can vote for him at www.BCHL.ca/fanvote
Nanaimo Clippers
General Manager & Head Coach: Colin Birkas
2024-25: GP 22 9-11-2-0, 20 pts (8th, Coastal Conference)
Last Game: 5-2 win vs. Vernon Vipers, November 30
Home: 6-5-0-0
Away: 3-6-2-0
GF: 80
GA: 83
Power Play: 21/74 (28.4%, 3rd in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 16/67 (76.1%, 14th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Joel Plante (11-13-24)
Nanaimo snapped a two-game losing streak with their 5-2 win over the Vernon Vipers on Friday night. The Clippers had a strong first period, scoring three times on 15 shots as they led 3-0 after 20 minutes. Forward Dylan Kinch had a goal and an assist in the win for the Clippers.
The Clippers are holding down the final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference, as they sit eighth out of 10 teams. Nanaimo is three points up on the Prince George Spruce Kings and five points back of seventh place Langley. The Clippers are 5-4-1-0 in the month of November.
Joel Plante and Cole Lonsdale have been a good one, two punch for Nanaimo. They Lonsdale centers the top line with Plante on his wing. Plante and Lonsdale are tied atop of the teams scoring race with 24 points.
Penticton will face another familiar face on this road trip, as former Vee Carson Lesiuk faces his former team for the first time since being traded to Nanaimo. Lesiuk has found a home in Nanaimo, as he has eight points (3G, 5A) in 12 games with his new team.
The Vees will likely face 20-year-old goaltender Chazz Nixon tonight. Nixon has carried the mail in the Clippers’ crease, playing in 16 of their first 23 games. Nixon is 5-10 with a .904 save percentage.