Game Preview: Vees look for 2-0 series lead against Cranbrook
SERIES
GM 1: Cranbrook 1 at Penticton 3, April 18
GM 2: Cranbrook at Penticton, April 19, 6:00 pm PDT
GM 3: Penticton at Cranbrook, April 23, 6:00 pm PDT
GM 4: Penticton at Cranbrook, April 24, 6:00 pm PDT
GM 5: Cranbrook at Penticton, April 26, 6:00 pm PDT*
GM 6: Penticton at Cranbrook, April 27, 5:00 pm PDT*
GM 7: Cranbrook at Penticton, April 29, 7:00 pm PDT*
*If necessary
PENTICTON VEES
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: 5 GP 5-0-0-0
Home: 3-0-0-0
Away: 2-0-0-0
GF: 22
GA: 6
Power Play: (5/17) 29.4%, 2nd BCHL
Penalty Kill: (11/11) 100%, 1st BCHL
Scoring Leader: Max Heise (2-6-8)
Penticton opened their second round series with a 3-1 Game One victory over the Cranbrook Bucks, Friday at the SOEC. It was the Vees’ fifth-straight win to open the 2025 Rogers BCHL Playoffs, as they look for a 2-0 series lead tonight in Game Two.
Simon Meier, Caton Ryan, and Louie Wehmann provided the offence. Penticton never trailed in Game One, as they led 1-0 after the first period, 2-0 early in the second and regained their two-goal lead early in the third period.
On the defensive side of things, Penticton continues to be very stingy. The Vees have only given up six goals in five playoff games and only three on home ice. Last night, the Bucks were held to just one goal and 20 shots. Will Ingemann was sharp in net, as he turned aside 19 shots for his third win of the postseason. His best save was in the first period, robbing Matthew Gilmore with a glove save on a Cranbrook two-on-oh rush.
Special teams continues to be a source of strength. The Vees power play went 1-3 last night and now sits second in the BCHL at 29.4 percent. The penalty kill has been even better, as Penticton went 2-2 on the kill last night and they have yet to surrender a power play goal against in the playoffs.
Turning to Game Two, the likely only lineup change for the Vees will be in goal. 20-year-old Ethan Buenaventura is the projected starter, as the Vees continue to rotate goalies. Buenaventura is 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. He also has one shutout.
Including the regular season, the Vees have won 22 of 29 home games and five of those losses came in overtime. They have lost just twice at the SOEC in regulation this season.
Caton Ryan has scored in three straight games for the Vees, going back to Round One. Max Heise, Ryan’s line mate, has picked up seven points in his last three. Simon Meier has scored three goals in his last four.
CRANBROOK BUCKS
General Manager & Head Coach: Ryan Donald
2024-25 Record: 7 GP 4-3
Home: 2-1
Away: 2-2
GF: 18
GA: 21
Power Play: (2/12), 16.7%, 10th BCHL
Penalty Kill: (6/9) 83.3%, 6th BCHL
Scoring Leader: Rasmus Svartström (5-1-6)
Cranbrook had their three-game win streak ended last night with their Game One setback. The Bucks had won Games Four, Five, Six against Trail to close out their first round series. the Bucks head into Game Two, looking for their first win in Penticton this season, having lost twice in the regular season before last night’s series opener.
Rasmus Svartström scored his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs last night, the Bucks’ only goal in Game One. Svartström, Bryce Sookro, and Blake Cotton have scored 11 of the Bucks’ 19 goals so far in the playoffs. Svartström himself has accounted for 26 percent of his team’s offence.
Goaltender Jaden Cholette has been a workhorse for Ryan Donald has played all seven playoff games for the Bucks. Cholette is still looking for his first win against the Vees this season, having lost in his four starts in the regular season. In five games against the Vees, he has posted an .864 save percentage. Cholette had a dynamite regular season, as he was named to the BCHL All-Rookie team this week.
The Bucks do get forward Samuel Lyne back in the lineup as he is done serving his two-game suspension. Lyne will bring some beef upfront, as he is listed at 6’2 and 209 pounds.