GAME DAY: GM #48 Vees vs. Langley Rivermen
Photo: Cherie Morgan
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: SOEC
Radio: Bounce 800 am
Webcast: Hockey TV
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2022-23: GP 47 43-3-0-1, Clinched 1st overall in the BCHL
Home: 21-0-0-0
Away: 22-3-0-1
GF: 255
GA: 83
Power Play: 37.4% (1)
Penalty Kill: 84.4% (2)
Top Scorer: Bradly Nadeau (38-56-94)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 7-2 W @ Trail (Mar. 4) | Mar. 11 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| 13-1 W @ Merritt (Mar. 3) | Mar. 17 vs. Nanaimo, 7:00 pm |
| 4-1 W @ Prince George (Feb. 25) | Mar. 18 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| 6-2 W vs. Wenatchee (Feb. 24) | Mar. 22 @ Salmon Arm, 6:00 pm |
| 5-1 W vs. Cranbrook (Feb. 20) | Mar. 24 vs. Vernon, 7:00 pm |
Season Series: First and only game against Langley in the regular season. Penticton last faced the Rivermen back on October 20th, 2021, at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack, winning 4-1. The Vees are 7-0-0-1 against the Coastal Conference.
Last Game: Penticton won their eighth in a row last Saturday, winning 7-2 on the road over the Trail Smoke Eaters. Aydar Suniev scored twice and the Vees also got goals from Jackson Nieuwendyk, Josh Nadeau, Josh Niedermayer, Dovar Tinling, and Bradly Nadeau. Penticton came back from an early 2-0 first period deficit, as Trail scored twice in the first eight minutes. The Vees swept the five-game season series against the Smoke Eaters.
Tonight: The Vees begin a four-game home stand at the SOEC, as six of their final seven games of the regular season are at home. Tonight, is Penticton’s first home game since February 24th, against Wenatchee when they won 6-2. The Vees are still undefeated at home, winners of all 20 games at the SOEC this season and 21-0-0-0 as the “home” team. One win coming at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack.
Good news on the injury front, as Ben Brunette is expected to make his return to the Vees’ lineup. The 20-year-old defenceman had missed the last 13 games with an upper-body injury.
Langley Rivermen
GM & Head Coach: Burt Henderson
2022-23: GP 47 13-29-2-3, 8th in Coastal Conference
Home: 9-11-2-1
Away: 4-18-0-2
GF: 117
GA: 172
Power Play: 20.3% (12)
Penalty Kill: 78.3% (9)
Top Scorer: Vitaly Levyy (22-16-38)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 4-2 L vs. Surrey (Mar. 5) | Mar. 11 @ Cranbrook, 7:00 pm MST |
| 3-2 W vs. Surrey (Mar. 4) | Mar. 17 vs. Coquitlam, 7:15 pm |
| 4-2 W vs. Nanaimo (Feb. 25) | Mar. 18 vs. Surrey, 7:15 pm |
| 7-6 L @ Coquitlam (Feb. 24) | Mar. 24 vs. Chilliwack, 7:15 pm |
| 2-0 L @ Chilliwack (Feb. 18) | Mar. 25 vs. Powell River, 7:15 pm |
Last Game: Langley split their weekend doubleheader against the Surrey Eagles last week. Friday, the Rivermen won 3-2 at home, but the following night the Eagles rebounded for a 4-2 victory at George Preston Arena. In Saturday’s game, the Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes and took that two-goal lead into the third period. Both teams scored twice in the final period.
Tonight: The Rivermen need six points to clinch the eighth and final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference, as their magic number is down to three. Langley enters this weekend six points ahead of the Cowichan Valley Capitals and do have a game in hand. Tonight, is the first of two road games this weekend, as Langley heads to Cranbrook tomorrow to face the Bucks. Challenging weekend for the Rivermen, as they face the two top teams in the Interior on back-to-back nights. Langley is 2-3-0-0 in their last five games and have lost six of their last eight (2-5-0-1).
Ajeet Gundarah, the Rivermen’s number one goaltender, did not dress in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles. Gundarah had play in 36 of Langley’s 47 games up until that point. No word on his status for this weekend. Langley will be without forward Dominick Rivelli as he was handed a three-game suspension by the BCHL after receiving a match penalty last Sunday.
Line Ups
Feed the Valley night
It’s Valley First’s 12th annual Feed the Valley night, as fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the game. All donations collected will be donated to the Penticton Salvation Army Food Bank. Fans who bring a donation will be entered into a draw for a Vees team-signed jersey. For more on Feed the Valley, click HERE.