Game Preview: GM #28 Vees at West Kelowna Warriors
Photo: Jack Murray
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Game Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: Royal LePage Place, West Kelowna
Radio: Bounce 800 AM
Webcast: Flo Hockey
Season Series
November 5, Penticton 0 at West Kelowna 3
December 13, West Kelowna 2 at Penticton 5
December 14, Penticton at West Kelowna
February 17, West Kelowna at Penticton
February 22, Penticton at West Kelowna
March 7, West Kelowna at Penticton
Penticton Vees
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: GP 27, 21-6-0-0, 42 pts (2nd, Interior Conference)
Last Game: 5-2 win vs. West Kelowna, December 13
Home: 9-1-0-0
Away: 12-5-0-0
GF: 106
GA: 70
Power Play: 23/90 (25.6%, 5th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 58/74 (78.4%, 8th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Ryden Evers (12-18-30)
The Vees took care of business on home ice Friday, picking up a 5-2 win over the West Kelowna Warriors in the first of a weekend doubleheader. Now, it’s trip to Royal LePage Place to close out the pre-holiday schedule, as Penticton looks for their seventh-straight win.
Friday, after a tight checking first period, the Vees found themselves trailing 1-0. They bounced back in the second thanks to a pair of goals from Luke Posthumus to flip the scoreboard. Posthumus has come alive in recent weeks, collecting six goals and seven points during a five-game point streak while playing alongside linemates Anselmo Rego and Matthew Cataldo.
In addition to the pair of goals from Posthumus in the second, Penticton got contributions from Louie Wehmann, Max Heise and Landon Wright in the third period. Will Ingemann stopped 16 shots in Vees’ crease.
With two points in their pocket, Penticton looks for the weekend sweep heading into the BCHL holiday break. Ethan Buenaventura gets the start for the Vees as he takes his turn in the goaltending rotation. Buenaventura has started his BCHL career with a 4-0-0-0 record in four starts, compiling 2.00 goals-against average and .910% save percentage. He has allowed two goals or less in three of his four starts thus far.
West Kelowna Warriors
Head Coach & General Manager: Simon Ferguson
2024-25: GP 28 9-12-5-2, 25 PTS (8th, Interior Conference)
Last Game: 5-2 loss at Penticton Vees, December 13th
Home: 5-5-1-1
Away: 4-7-4-1
GF: 68
GA: 97
Power Play: 14/95 (14.7%, 19th in BCHL)
Penalty Kill: 69/90 (76.3%, 14th in BCHL)
Scoring Leader: Jackson Kyrkostas (6-22-28)
The Warriors look to bounce back Saturday night after Friday’s loss at the SOEC.
The top line of Jackson Kyrkostas, Sam LeDrew and Luciano Bruno was a bright spot for the Warriors, who rode a great first 10 minutes to a first period lead. Kyrkostas scored his sixth of the season to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead early and the Warriors did well to slow down Penticton’s transition game through the neutral zone.
LeDrew also score for the Warriors on the power play in the third period, but Penticton pulled away to send West Kelowna to their second consecutive loss and sixth in their past seven contests.
Jack Lisson stopped 21 of 26 shots in the loss. Due to the season ending injury to 20-year-old Dawson Labre, the goaltending duties will be handled by the combination of Lisson and 19-year-old Ayo Ogini for the foreseeable future. It is unclear whether General Manager & Head Coach Simon Ferguson will go back to Lisson on Saturday night or turn to Ogini in the Warriors crease.