Game Preview: Vees look to even series in Game Two
Photo: Cherie Morgan
Author: Fraser Rodgers
SERIES
Game 1: Friday, May 2nd, Brooks 2 at Penticton 1 F
Game 2: Saturday, May 3rd, Brooks at Penticton, 6:00 pm PDT
Game 3: Monday, May 5th, Penticton at Brooks, 7:00 pm MDT
Game 4: Tuesday, May 6th, Penticton at Brooks, 7:00 pm MDT
Game 5: Friday, May 9th, Brooks at Penticton, 7:00 pm PDT*
Game 6: Monday, May 12th, Penticton at Brooks, 7:00 pm MDT*
Game 7: Tuesday, May 13th, Brooks at Penticton, 7:00 pm PDT*
*If necessary
Penticton Vees
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2025 Playoffs Record: 9 GP 8-1
Home: 4-1
Away: 4-1
GF: 36
GA: 14
Power Play: (6/29) 20.7%, 7th BCHL
Penalty Kill: (19/19) 100%, 1st BCHL
Scoring Leader: Max Heise (3-10-13)
The Penticton Vees lost their first game of the 2025 BCHL Playoffs on Friday, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Brooks Bandits, in Game One of the Interior Conference Final. Last night’s loss ended the Vees’ eight-game win streak. Penticton posted back-to-back sweeps in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Callum Stone scored the Vees’ only goal in Game One, as they came in the third period when Penticton was down 2-0. Stone’s goal was his second of the playoffs and second in as many games, going back to Game Four in Round Two against Cranbrook.
Will Ingemann was tagged with the loss but was named the second star after he stopped 21 of 23 shots. Friday was his first loss in five playoff games.
So, the Vees are now facing adversity for the first time in these playoffs. Tonight is a big game, a win and the series is tied 1-1. A loss and the Bandits have a 2-0 series lead heading back to Alberta. How do the Vees respond after their first loss of the playoffs?
One key for Penticton is having a good start and playing with the lead. The Vees are 33-4 this season when they score first, 8-0 in the playoffs, and 35-1 when leading after two periods. 7-0 when leading after 40 minutes in the lead in the playoffs. Staggering numbers. The Vees had a great start, at one point outshot Brooks 10-1, but couldn’t get ahead in the first last night.
Penticton lost Eli McKamey early in Game One with a lower body injury. Unfortunately, the news isn’t good, as the 16-year-old will miss the rest of the playoffs. 19-year-old veteran George Stavrianeas will slide into his spot up front. Penticton played most of Game One with 11 forwards, so they will have the full complement upfront tonight.
Ethan Buenaventura gets his turn in goal in Game Two. 20-year-old is 4-0 with a 1.25 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. He was 2-0 against Brooks in the regular season with a .957 save percentage.
Ryden Evers and Max Heise, the Vees’ top two centers, were excellent last night despite not scoring. The two have been a bit unlucky of late, with just one goal combined in the last six games. Evers hasn’t scored since Game One in Round One. Look for them to make an impact in Game Two. It’s only a matter of time.
Brooks Bandits
General Manager & Head Coach: Ryan Papaioannou
2024-25 Record: 10 GP, 9-1
Home: 4-1
Away: 5-0
GF: 42
GA: 24
Power Play: (10/38) 26.3%, 4th BCHL
Penalty Kill: (6/44) 86.4%, 2nd BCHL
Scoring Leader: Parker Lalonde (8-6-14)
The Bandits have now won nine in a row and look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in Game Two. Brooks has yet to lose on the road, as they are now 5-0 in the playoffs.
Parker Lalonde and Nathan Brown scored in the second period, as that was all the offence the Bandits needed.
Their best player Friday was goaltender Zach Zahara. The 19-year-old stopped 30 shots last night and is now 9-1 in the postseason with a 2.34 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. Zahara made timely saves throughout Friday’s game, especially in the second period when the Vees were pressing for an equalizer. Give the Bandits credit, they blocked shots and boxed out in front of their net.
Their top players played considerable minutes. Defencemen Ethan Beyer and Keith McInnis each logged 28 minutes, and their top line of Lalonde, Luke Bibby, and Nick Peluso all played 20 minutes; a full period of hockey. That top line has been dominate in the playoffs, combining for 19 goals and 41 points in just 10 games.