Game Preview: GM #9 Vees vs. Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL Showcase)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 4:00 pm PDT
Location: Chilliwack Coliseum, BCHL Showcase
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Photo: Garrett James Photography
Season Series
October 16th, Victoria @ Penticton, 4:00 pm PDT
Penticton Vees
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: GP 8, 7-1-0-0, 14 PTS (2nd, Interior Conference)
Last Game: 6-2 win Vs Okotoks, October 16th
Home: 2-0-0-0
Away: 5-1-0-0
GF: 33
GA: 18
Power Play: 10 / 32 (31.3%, 4th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 17/ 24 (70.8%, 17th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Anselmo Rego (3-7-10)
The Vees began their 2024 BCHL Showcase Tuesday night with a convincing 6-2 victory over the Okotoks Oilers. Six goals from six different scorers, and the power play had three goals. Eli McKamey, Ryden Evers, and Luke Posthumus each had a goal and an assist. Andrew Ness made 33 saves for his second win of the season.
Penticton now turns its attention to one of its toughest tests of the season to date, matching up with one of the top teams from the Coastal Conference in the Victoria Grizzlies. A balanced scoring attack has been the key to success early, with 13 different players finding the goal column at least once through the team’s first eight games. After a slow start to the season, the power play has come alive, scoring six times on 13 opportunities in the last three games. It’s been a big part of what is now a five-game winning streak for the Vees as they look to stretch it to six Wednesday against Victoria.
Anselmo Rego continues to lead the team in points, collecting an assist in Tuesday’s contest to stretch his season long point streak to eight.
Expect Will Ingemann to get the start for Penticton, coming off a rare night off Tuesday against Okotoks. Ingemann carries a 2.49 goals against average and .909% save percentage into Wednesday’s action in seven appearances.
Tuesday’s win over the Oilers was BCHL win 700 for Vees President, General Manager and Head Coach, Fred Harbinson over his 17-year BCHL coaching career.
Victoria Grizzlies
General Manager & Head Coach: Rylan Firster
2024-25: GP 7 5-1-1-0, 4 PT (2nd, Coastal Conference)
Last Game: 6-5 overtime loss vs Trail, October 12th
Home: 2-0-1-0
Away: 3-1-0-0
GF: 35
GA: 24
Power Play: 10/26 (38.5%, 2nd in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 25/30 (83.3%, 7th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Drew Hockley (6-7-13)
The Grizzlies open their 2024 BCHL Showcase tonight at the Chilliwack Coliseum in the clash with the Vees. They arrive to tonight’s contest off their first home loss of the season, a 6-5 overtime defeat at the hands of the Trail Smoke Eaters at the Q Centre on October 12th.
Under new ownership this season and with a veteran coach at the helm, it’s no surprise the Grizzlies find themselves near the top of the Coastal Conference after a strong start to their season. They’ve found a way to be on the right side of the ledger in one goal games early, with four of their five wins coming by a single goal. They rely on solid special teams, residing in the top third of the league on both their power play and their penalty kill through seven games thus far.
Veteran defenseman Drew Hockley is a big reason for their early success, not only leading by example but also on the scoresheet. The 19-year-old from Kentville, Nova Scotia, who’s committed to Quinnipiac, leads all BCHL defensemen in scoring with 13 points (6-7-13) in his first seven games. The outburst from Hockley early is a nice surprised, as he has more than doubling his point total from the entirety of last season.
Tyler Hodges has seen the bulk of the action between the pipes for Victoria in the early part of this BCHL season, and it is expected that’s who the Vees will see when they step between the boards tonight against the Grizzlies.
Puck drop is set for 4:00pm PDT from the Chilliwack Coliseum as the Vees gets et to finish up their 2024/25 BCHL Showcase. You can follow all the action live on FloHockey or locally on radio thanks to the official broadcast partners of the Penticton Vees, Bounce 800AM.