Game Preview: GM #33 Vees vs. Vernon Vipers

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Game Time: 7:00 pm PST

Location: South Okanagan Events Centre

Radio: Bounce 800 AM

Webcast: Flo Hockey 

Season Series

Oct. 27^th Vernon 3 at Penticton 5

Nov. 25^th Penticton 1 at Vernon 2 (SO)

Dec. 31^st Penticton 3 at Vernon 0

Jan. 12^th Vernon at Penticton, 7:00 pm

Feb 16^th Vernon at Penticton, 7:00 pm

Penticton Vees

GM & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson

Record : GP 32 22-6-2-2 (1^st, Interior)

Home: 13-1-0-0

Away: 9-5-2-2

Last Game: 3-1 win at Prince George (Jan. 6)

GF: 124

GA: 75

Power Play: (35/109) 32.1% 1^st

Penalty Kill: (22/93) 76.3% 13^th

Scoring Leader: Callum Arnott (17-15-32)

The Vees are finally back home. Tonight, the Vees play their first home game in 28 days, as the host the Vernon Vipers at the SOEC.

The Vees split their weekend up north last week, losing 7-4 to the Prince George Spruce Kings Friday, but rebounded for a 3-1 victory on Saturday. Penticton is 5-5-0-0 in their last 10 games, but still sit first in the Interior Conference, two points up on the West Kelowna Warriors.

Vernon won both games last weekend, shutting out the Cranbrook Bucks 4-0 and edging the Trail Smoke Eaters 3-2. The Vipers enter this weekend just three points back of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks for third place in the Interior.

Tonight, is the fourth of five meetings between these two teams. The Vees shutout the Vipers 3-0 back on New Year’s Eve at Kal-Tire Place. Andrew Ness earned his second shutout of the season, with his 19-save performance. So far, Penticton is 2-0-0-1 in three games against Vernon. James Fisher leads the Vees with four points (3-1-4) in three games against the Vipers.

Earlier today, NHL Central Scouting released its midterm rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft, and three Vees made the grade. Max Heise (171), Connor MacPherson (179), and Francesco Dell’Elce (197) are all ranked among North American Skaters. Heise and MacPherson are projected 6th-round picks, Dell’Elce 7th. The 2024 NHL Draft in June 28-29, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Andrew Ness gets the start tonight and his second against the Vipers. His last start was against Vernon on December 31, as he picked up his second shutout of the season.

The Vees also welcome back Simon Meier to the lineup. Meier had missed the last eight games, as he was playing with Switzerland at the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship. Tonight’s his first game since December 6^th.

Vernon Vipers

GM & Head Coach: Jason McKee

2023-24 : GP 31 19-11-1-0 (4^th, Interior)

Home: 11-5-1-0

Away: 8-6-0-0

Last Game: 3-2 win vs. Trail (Jan. 6)

GF: 116

GA: 86

Power Play: (27/113) 23.9% 4^th

Penalty Kill: (19/101) 81.2% 5^th

Scoring Leader: Owen Kim (9-25-34)

The Vipers won both games last weekend at home, picking up wins against Cranbrook and Trail. Vernon shutout the Bucks 4-0 on Friday and came back to beat the Smoke Eaters 3-2 Saturday.

Vernon had to come back from two different one-goal deficits in that win over the Smokies. Hank Cleaves and Nick Mikan scored 1:15 apart in the second period to turn a 2-1 deficit, into a 3-2 lead.

Tonight is the Vipers first road game of 2024 and their first since before the Christmas break. Vernon last was on the road back on December 15, a 3-1 to the Bucks in Cranbrook. To date, the Vipers are 8-6-0-0 away from Kal Tire Place.

Vernon welcomes a key piece up front back into the lineup in winger Julian Facchinelli. The 19-year-old had missed the last 14 games due to injury. He last played November 11^th. Facchinelli has 13 points (5G,8A) in 12 games.