The West Kelowna Warriors look to return to the win column tonight when they host their Interior Division rivals, the Penticton Vees.
Season Series:
Friday, September 30th @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
Saturday, October 22nd @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
Tuesday, November 22nd @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
Wednesday, January 11th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
Saturday, January 21st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (6:00 PM)
Friday, February 17th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
Tuesday, February 21st @ Royal LePage Place (7:00 PM)
This is the first of seven meetings between the Warriors and Vees, a rematch of the 2016 BCHL Interior Division Final.
The Warriors come into tonight after a penalty filled 5-1 loss to the Merritt Centennials on Tuesday night. West Kelowna gave up four goals on the penalty kill and will look to shore that up tonight. Connor Sodergren scored the lone goal for the home side, on the power play, but Merritt would score four unanswered goals after that on their way to the win.
The Warriors roster has made some significant changes since Tuesday, the biggest may be the trade between West Kelowna and Prince George. The Warriors acquired 20 year-old forward Braiden Epp from the Spruce Kings in exchange for Tyler Anderson. Epp, who will be playing his second straight game against Penticton and seeing them for the third time this season, will wear number 11 for the Warriors.
West-K also announced the return of defensemen Scott Allan. The big rearguard was returned to West Kelowna after he was released from the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen. He will wear number 23 for the Warriors this season.
Thirdly, West Kelowna added 18 year-old forward Matthew Campese to the team after he was released from the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. Campese has tied to the Okanagan with playing his midget hockey at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton. He will wear number 24 for the Warriors.
West Kelowna made one more transaction on Wednesday, shipping out 18 year-old defensemen Daly Hamilton to the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Canmore Eagles. Hamilton suited up for three games with the Warriors and collected no points.
The Vees enter tonight in first place in the Interior Division and have won three straight games, including both of their games at the Bauer BCHL Showcase. Penticton defeated the Langley Rivermen 6-4 on Thursday before beating the Spruce Kings by a 3-2 score on Friday and have not played since.
Penticton returns seven players from last year’s 50 win roster that includes captain Nicholas Jones, Gabe Bast, Owen Sillinger, David Eccles, Ben Brar, Taylor Ward and Griffin Mendel.
The Vees are led in scoring by rookie Ty Amonte, son of legendary NHLer Tony Amonte, who has three goals and ten points this season in just six games. 20 year-old goaltender Mat Robson has had a strong start to his BCHL career, leading the league in wins with four and posting a 1.72 GAA and a .938 SV% in five games thus far.
Puck drop is 7:00 PM at Royal LePage Place tonight and you can purchase your tickets at the Warriors office or by calling Kim at (250) 769-7051. If you can’t make it to the rink, the game will be live on the Warriors Internet Network and pay-per-view video on www.fasthockey.com.
