GAME PREVIEW: Vees Look To Seize Fred Page Cup In Game #4 In Nanaimo
The Penticton Vees have a chance at hoisting the Fred Page Cup on Wednesday night in Game #4 of their best-of-seven BCHL Final series against the Nanaimo Clippers from Frank Crane Arena.
REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE vs. NANAIMO
Friday, November 5th @ Frank Crane Arena (7-3 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
FOURTH ROUND SCHEDULE vs. NANAIMO
Game #1: Friday, May 13th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (4-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Game #2: Saturday, May 14th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (3-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Game #3: Tuesday, May 17th @ Frank Crane Arena (3-2 Vees/OT) (BOXSCORE)
Game #4: Wednesday, May 18th @ Frank Crane Arena (7:00 PM)
*Game #5: Friday, May 20th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
*Game #6: Sunday, May 22nd @ Frank Crane Arena (7:00 PM)
*Game #7: Tuesday, May 24th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
*- If Necessary
The Vees sit one win away from a Fred Page Cup championship following a 3-2 overtime victory over the Clippers on Tuesday night at Frank Crane Arena. Frank Djurasevic and Josh Nadeau each found the back of the net in the 2nd period before it was Stefano Bottini that played the hero and helped Penticton to the win with his overtime marker. Kaeden Lane turned aside 19 of the 21 shots thrown his way in his 15th victory of the playoffs.
Vees Regular Season Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (29-46-75)
Josh Nadeau (40-32-72)
Bradly Nadeau (20-26-46)
Brett Moravec (22-19-41)
Casey McDonald (20-17-37)
Vees Playoff Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (7-17-24)
Josh Nadeau (11-10-21)
Bradly Nadeau (8-13-21)
Adam Eisele (5-12-17)
Jackson Nieuwendyk (8-5-13)
It was a career highlight for Stefano Bottini in Game #3 on Tuesday night, netting the overtime winning goal that has Penticton one win away from their 13th Fred Page Cup. The Lugano, Switzerland native, with his parents in attendance, notched his 3rd goal of the postseason to give the Vees a 3-0 lead in the series and now has collected points in three of his last four games, dating back to Game #4 of the Interior Conference Final against the West Kelowna Warriors. The Canisuis College commit has earned a goal and three assists in his last four games and could play a big factor in helping to bring a championship to Penticton tonight.
For the 15th consecutive game, the Vees found the win column and have not lost a contest since March 31st, the opening game of the postseason in a Game #1 defeat to the Trail Smoke Eaters in the Interior Conference Quarter Finals by a 5-3 score. Since that game, the Vees have allowed three goals just one time and have held opponents to one or no goals in 10 of their 15 playoff wins.
When having an opportunity to eliminate an opponent from the playoffs, Penticton has seized that in the 2022 playoffs, owning a 3-0 record in the postseason in elimination games. With the Fred Page Cup on the line, the Vees are 4-2 in potential Cup clinching games since 2008, having won the league’s title in 2008, 2012, 2015 and 2017.
The Nanaimo Clippers will look to keep their season alive in Game #4 on Wednesday night following the 3-2 overtime setback. Nanaimo earned goals from Jeremie Payant and Keighan Gerrie to get themselves to overtime but couldn’t find the extra marker. Cooper Black was strong in the Clippers net, making 36 saves on 39 shots in his 3rd loss of the playoffs.
Clippers Regular Season Leaders:
Sean Donaldson (36-34-70)
Max Itagaki (27-34-61)
Tristan Fraser (20-37-57)
Kai Daniells (22-20-42)
Jeremie Payant (14-21-35)
Clippers Playoff Leaders:
Sean Donaldson (12-7-19)
Brody Waters (9-5-14)
Keighan Gerrie (7-6-13)
Kai Daniells (8-4-12)
Tristan Fraser (1-10-11)
Despite missing Game #2 of the series, Clippers forward Keighan Gerrie has been a strong and steady presence of offense in the Nanaimo lineup, sitting 3rd in team scoring with 7 goals and 13 points during the postseason. Following a regular season of 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 32 games, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native has rattled off points in four of his last five games, earning 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points in that span.
The Clippers have played well in elimination games in the 2022 playoffs as well, owning a 3-0 record and did not lose a single postseason game before the series against the Vees. Historically, Nanaimo has posted a record of 3-4 in elimination games since the 2016 playoffs and, leading into this playoff run, had not won an elimination game since the 2016 playoff season.
The Vees will look for the right to hoist the Fred Page Cup tonight with a 3-0 serioes lead in Game #4 of the Fred Page Cup Final at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with the game being broadcasted live on Bounce Radio 800 as well as streamed online on BCHLTV.ca beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40 PM.