Game: Penticton Vees vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Starts at 7:10pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Capitals: 0-1-0-0
Last Meeting: Vees won 4-0 (September 2012)
Kings 2012/2013 Record: 17-18-2-4 (4th Coastal)
Kings at home: 10-6-0-2
Kings Last 10: 3-4-2-1
Kings vs Interior: 5-6-0-0
Vees 2012/2013 Record: 25-11-0-3 (1st Interior)
Vees on the road: 12-6-0-2
Vees Last 10: 6-4-0-0
On the back of two very impressive games last weekend, the Kings return home for two extremely important games this weekend, for two very different reasons. After not scoring more than 2 goals in each of their last 4 contests, including a 6-2 to West Kelowna, the Kings exploded for 11 goals in 120 minutes worth of work, and took points away from Vernon and Salmon Arm.
Tonight’s game against Penticton will be two fold. It’s very possible it could mean something slightly different to returning players and the fans, than it does to first-year players. You of course can’t think Powell River/Penticton without going back to April, and the Fred Page Cup series. The Vees, on the tail end of a fairytale year got the bounces they needed, and skill when it mattered most to sweep the Kings 4-0.
Another 4-0 scoreline has marred the Kings against Penticton, and that’s the last meeting between the two. The Kings banged up, walked into the SOEC in Penticton and walked out, without a goal in the contest. With many players on top form coming into tonight, you can bet the team will do everything they can to ensure that doesn’t happen again. Forward to look for are JP Villeneuve and Drew Dorantes, both riding 5-game point streaks. Along with Matt Dupont and Landon Robin who were big last weekend.
The Kings will have to go without Evan Richardson tonight, he’s serving a 1-game suspension for his 2nd instigator of the year in a scrap against Salmon Arm. It joins the call he got September 15th in Nanaimo when he fought Chris Rygus. Other than that, the Kings will go in largely unchanged from last weekend in Salmon Arm.
The Vees made the long trek down from Penticton to Powell River yesterday, so a good night’s sleep and no travel today = fresh legs. Not much has changed for the Vees overall since the last meeting. Sure there has been some player turnover, but that’s to be expected. The Vees are still leading the Interior Division, and sit 2nd in the BCHL behind Victoria. They’re the 3rd highest scoring team in the league behind West Kelowna and Victoria, but they’ve conceeded the fewest goals.
Once again it’s a balanced team, loaded on skill. Wade Murphy has been lighting up the BCHL in scoring, Troy Stetcher is an excellent defenceman and Chad Katunar won the Fred Page Cup against the Kings last year, winning all 4 of his starts in the Finals. The addition of John Siemer at the trade deadline makes a strong offence, that much more deadly. Siemer instantly becomes the Vees leading scorer, 4 points ahead of Murphy (although Siemer has played 39 games, Murphy just 34).
In net, Chad Katunar will get the start ahead of Nic Reynard. Also look for Louie Nanne to be good, he was excellent from memory when the Kings were in Penticton. Also watch for Ryan Gropp, who was the only BCHL’er to head to the World U17 Championships and play for Team Pacific.
On the show tonight, we’ll have former Vee, now King defenceman Noah Henry’s player profile. He’ll talk on growing up in Seattle, playing high school hockey with a couple of Penticton Vees, and how he’s enjoying Powell River to date. We’ll also talk to JP Villeneuve, Luke Ripley, Jarryd Leung and the voice of the Vees, Fraser Rodgers. In the 2nd intermission, the BCHL This Week featuring former Chief David Bondra and the newest Surrey Eagle, Adam Tambellini.
Derek Bachynski and a player will join us after 60 minutes to break down the game in our post-game show.
