Game Preview: GM #13 Vees vs. Vernon Vipers

Photo: Jack Murray

BROADCAST INFORMATION 

Game Time: 6:00 pm PDT 

Location: South Okanagan Events Centre 

Radio: Bounce 800 AM  

Webcast: Flo Hockey  

Season Series 

October 5, Penticton 4 at Vernon 3 

October 26, Vernon at Penticton, 6:00 pm

November 23, Vernon at Penticton, 6:00 pm

February 7, Vernon at Penticton, 7:00 pm

February 15, Penticton at Vernon, 6:00 pm

March 15, Penticton at Vernon, 6:00 pm

Penticton Vees 

President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson 

2024-25 Record: GP 12, 9-3-0-0, 18 pts (2nd, Interior Conference) 

Last Game: 4-1 loss at Trail, October 25

Home: 3-0-0-0 

Away: 6-3-0-0 

GF: 46 

GA: 32 

Power Play: 13 / 40 (32.5%, 4th in BCHL) 

Penalty Kill: 26/ 34 (76.5, 13th in BCHL) 

Scoring Leader: Anselmo Rego (3-10-13) 

Penticton gets set to play just their third home game of the season, after a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Trail Smoke Eaters, Friday night in the West Kootenays. The trip to Cominco Arena was the last stop in a grueling 10-day stretch for Penticton that saw them put in over 3,300 kilometres on the road between the Lower Mainland, Central Alberta and the West Kootenays. 

Max Heise scored his seventh goal of the season Friday, besting his total of six goals in 49 games as a rookie last season. The first period marker was the fifth of the season for Heise on the power  play. The Vees power play has now scored 12 times in eight games during the month of October. Heise’s five power play goals on the season move him into a tie with Brooks Bandits’ forward Parker Lalonde for the BCHL lead.

Vees’ Captain Conyr Hellyer saw his point streak end at six games as the top line along with Anselmo Rego and Ryden Evers was held pointless in the loss to Trail. Will Ingemann stopped 18 shots in defeat, just his second recorded loss in nine appearances this season. 

Ingemann’s goaltending counterpart, 20-year-old Andrew Ness, is expected to start Saturday for Penticton as they welcome the rival Vernon Vipers to town. In his second season with Penticton, Ness has a 2-1 record and a .932 save percentage in four appearances. 

Vernon Vipers 

Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations: Lukas Lomicky 

2024-25: GP 12 4-7-1-0, 9 pts (10th, Interior Conference) 

Last Game: 4-0 Win at Salmon Arm, October 25th 

Home: 1-2-1-0 

Away: 3-5-0-0 

GF: 35 

GA: 42 

Power Play: 10/40 (25.0, 8th in BCHL) 

Penalty Kill: 36/46 (78.3%, 12th in BCHL) 

Scoring Leader: Will Schumacher (4-9-13)  

After beginning the season winless in their first six contests, the Vernon Vipers have been able to get their season back on the rails as of late. Winners in four of their last six contests, the latest being a 4-0 shutout victory over Salmon Arm on Friday, the Vipers come into the SOEC on Saturday night looking for back-to-back wins.

Vernon has averaged just under three goals per game as a team through their first 12 games. Their 35 goals have come from 15 different players and three of their four against Salmon Arm on Friday were scored by defencemen.  

20-year-old Will Schumacher paces the Vipers atop the team scoring list with four goals and 13 points in 11 games. The Minnesota product, who is committed to Mercyhurst, tallied three assists against the Silverbacks on Friday in an impressive effort as the Vipers shut down a streaking Salmon Arm squad.  

Colin Reay picked up the shutout for the snakes against the Silverbacks, the first of the season and second of his BCHL career. The veteran goaltender has been counted on early and often to stabilize things in the Vernon crease and has done a nice job, maintaining a goals against average below 3.00 and a save percentage of .901.

Tonight, is Halloween night at the SOEC, presented by the Real Canadian Superstore. Halloween Alley is open for families with children eight and under, as they can partake in Halloween crafts and games, along with trick-or-treating. Real Canadian Superstore is hosting a first intermission costume contest. Click the link to buy tickets. BUY HERE