The Smoke Eaters open a home-and-home series against the two-time defending champion, Vees tonight in Penticton.
The young men from Trail are looking to rebound from last Saturday’s 5-3 loss in West Kelowna against a Penticton pack that is almost totally rebuilt, with just two returning players from last season.
The game features the BCHL’s first star from September, Ryan MacPherson of the Vees, who leads the league with seven points and five goals. The Philadelphia Flyers draft choice has two power play goals and a shorthanded marker. He was held off the scoresheet during a 5-3 opening night loss in West Kelowna, but has been on a tear ever since.
The Smokies hottest hand belongs to Josh Schenk.
The Assistant Captain potted a pair of goals in last Friday’s win over Salmon Arm at Cominco Arena, as well as another Saturday night against the Warriors.
These two teams are part of a tight battle throughout the Interior Conference with just two points separating first and sixth place.
The Smokies take a 1-2-2 record into tonight’s tilt, while the Vees are 2-1-0-1 following an overtime win last weekend in Nanaimo and a shootout loss in Powell River.
This is also Penticton’s regular season home opener.
These two tangled in the Vees preseason premiere with Penticton scoring a 5-3 win on a night that Conyr Heller recorded four assists for the home side, while Gryphon Bucci picked up a pair of assists for the Smoke Eaters.
The Vees championship banner will also be raised to the rafters before the game, making it another motivating factor for a Trail team swept by Penticton in the first round of last spring’s playoffs.
Game time is 7pm Pacific and Smokies fans can listen live on Mixlr or watch the action on FloHockey.
