GAME DAY: GM #49 Vees vs. Merritt Centennials
Photo: Cherie Morgan
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 6:00 pm PST
Location: SOEC
Radio: Bounce 800 am
Webcast: Hockey TV
Penticton Vees
GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2022-23: GP 48 44-3-0-1, Clinched 1st overall in the BCHL
Home: 22-0-0-0
Away: 22-3-0-1
GF: 264
GA: 85
Power Play: 38.2% (1)
Penalty Kill: 84.3% (2)
Top Scorer: Bradly Nadeau (39-60-99)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 9-2 W vs. Langley (Mar. 10) | Mar. 17 vs. Nanaimo, 7:00 pm |
| 7-2 W @ Trail (Mar. 4) | Mar. 18 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| 13-1 W @ Merritt (Mar. 3) | Mar. 22 @ Salmon Arm, 6:00 pm |
| 4-1 W @ Prince George (Feb. 25) | Mar. 24 vs. Vernon, 7:00 pm |
| 6-2 W vs. Wenatchee (Feb. 24) | Mar. 26 vs. Salmon Arm, 4:00 pm |
| Season Series |
| 6-0 W vs. Merritt (Oct. 7) |
| 5-4 W @ Merritt (Oct. 14) OT |
| 8-0 W @ Merritt (Dec. 14) |
| 7-2 W @ Merritt (Feb. 18) |
| 13-1 W @ Merritt (Mar. 3) |
| Mar. 11 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
| Mar. 18 vs. Merritt, 6:00 pm |
Last Game: Penticton stretched their win streak to nine games with Friday’s 9-2 victory over the Langley Rivermen at home. Bradly Nadeau had five points (2G, 3A) in the win, Aydar Suniev registered four points (1G, 3A), and Josh Nadeau (1G, 2A) and Frank Djurasevic (0G, 3A) each had three points. The Vees tied their season-high for goals in a period with their six-goal outburst in the third period. Friday marked the third time this season they have scored six goals in the final frame. The power play was red-hot, scoring three times on four opportunities.
Tonight: Sixth of seven meetings with the Merritt Centennials, as the Vees face them twice in the next week. In their last three meetings, Penticton has outscored the Centennials 28-3 in the last three games of the season series. Remember, it was the Vees last Friday winning 13-1 at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Penticton is looking to keep their perfect home record intact as well, as the Vees are 21-0-0-0 at the SOEC this season.
Rookie goaltender Derek Sparks will make his BCHL debut between the pipes tonight. The 17-year-old from Grand Prairie, Alberta, is the Vees’ third goalie on the depth chart. Last season, Sparks played next door at the Okanagan Hockey Academy on their Under 17 Prep team.
Streaks: Aydar Suniev is riding an 11-game point streak coming into Saturday’s game. Suniev has 23 points (12G, 11A) during his streak. Bradly Nadeau has six-straight multi-point games and Josh Nadeau has scored in eight-straight.
Merritt Centennials
GM & Head Coach: Curtis Toneff
2022-23: GP 49 12-32-3-2, 9th Interior Conference
Home: 7-17-1-1
Away: 5-15-2-1
GF: 128
GA: 251
Power Play: 17% (16)
Penalty Kill: 75.5% (14)
Top Scorer: Jaxson Murray (20-23-43)
| Last 5 Games | Next 5 Games |
| 13-0 L vs. Wenatchee (Mar. 10) | Mar. 17 at Wenatchee, 7:05 pm |
| 5-4 W vs. West Kelowna (Mar. 4) OT | Mar. 18 at Penticton, 6:00 pm |
| 13-1 L vs. Penticton (Mar. 3) | Mar. 24 at West Kelowna, 7:00 pm |
| 7-1 L @ West Kelowna (Feb. 26) | Mar. 25 vs. Vernon, 7:00 pm |
| 3-1 L vs. Wenatchee (Feb. 25) |
Outlook: For the second time in a week, the Centennials were tagged for 13 goals against, losing 13-0 last. night at home to Wenatchee. Friday was their wort margin of defeat this season. The Centennials have shown they can bounce back after a lopsided loss, just a week ago they beat West Kelowna 5-4 in overtime after losing to the Vees by 12 a night earlier. With Trail’s win last night the Centennials have been eliminated from BCHL post-season contention. It’s the third season in a row the Centennials have missed out on the BCHL playoffs.
The last four games of the season will be a good elevation process for Head Coach & GM Curtis Toneff and his staff, as they look at shaping their roster for next season.