vees:blog

The South Okanagan rivalry between the Westside Warriors and the Penticton Vees has found a new gear in this 3rd season of competition. While Vernon still brings out the best of Penticton Hockey Fans, the Warriors are starting to brew contempt in these parts.

This season the Warriors have accomplished something they hadn’t done in since moving to ‘West Kelowna’ in 2006. On November 8th this season, with the Vees without 3 of their top 6 forwards, the Warriors beat the Vees in Penticton.

The first 25 games these teams played (Pre-, Regular- & Post-Season) were nearly all Vees wins. A winning percentage north of .800 meant Warriors fans couldn’t stand the Vees, while Vees fans seemed nearly indifferent to the Warriors. The Vees swept the Warriors in the Interior Conference Final last season, en route to their 1st Fred Page Championship in over two decades.

“they always show up and give us two points… I kinda like them” seemed like the general take on the Okanagan opponents.

Tied with the Vees for 3rd in the Conference with 58 points, and winners of 3 of the last 5 games in the season-series, the Warriors have the attention of the Vees and their fans this season.

Here’s a look at the first 8 games of the 10 contest Season-Series

Record: Vees (5-2-0-1) Warriors (3-4-0-1)

Power Play: Vees (6/53) 11.3% Warriors (3/32) 9.4%

Shots For: Vees (233) 29.1/Game Warriors (234) 29.2/Game

LEADING SCORERS

WS F - Jordan Gagne 8GP (6-2-8)

PEN F Curtis McKenzie 7GP (4-3-7)

WS D - Justin Schultz 7GP (1-6-7)

PEN F - Garrett Milan 8GP (3-3-6)

WS F - Garrett Watson 8GP (1-5-6)

WS F - Trevor Bailey 8GP (2-3-5)

WS D - Brad Plumpton 8GP (1-4-5)

PEN F - Ryan Viselli 7GP (2-2-4)

PEN F - Denver Manderson 4GP (1-3-4)

PEN D - Zack Josepher 8GP (1-3-4)

PEN D - Devon Krogh 8GP (0-4-4)

PEN F - Brodie Reid 3GP (2-1-3)

LEADING GOALIES

WS - Kevin Jebson (3-4-0) 2.63 GAA, .909 S%, 433:57 TOI

PEN - Jordan White (2-3-0) 2.69 GAA, .908 S%, 344:42 TOI

WS - Devon Murtagh (0-1-0) 4.04 GAA, .833 S%, 59:23 TOI

Westside minor hockey product Kyle McMurphy talks about the Interior Conference Final Sweep of his home town team.

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The Vees win 5-2 and advance to the Fred Page Cup.

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4-1 Good Guys.

One win sends this team to the Fred Page Cup.

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Games 3 and 4 of the Interior Conference Final in Westside are not yet sold-out.

As of Monday Night at 7:00, the Warriors had 300 seats left and nearly 500 standing room tickets left for Tuesday Night, and more for Wednesday’s Game 4.

Here is the link to buy tickets to the games, as the Warriors don’t sell tickets over the phone.

For more information call (250) 762-5050

Puck Drop is 7:00 with the Warriors’ Tailgate Party Kicking Off at 5:00.

What’s up Coach?

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Here’s your Holiday quota of locker room feedback from the Vees.

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Time for another completely bias ranking of the Vees

#1 - Brett Hextall - Captain has 8 goals in 9 playoff games - (last rank - 1)

#2 - Kyle McMurphy - 4 points including OT winner in Game 2 - (last rank - 3)

#3 - Alex Evin - Save of the year to send Game 2 to OT with less than a minute to play - (last rank - nada)

#4 - Ryan Wagner - Weyburn Warrior has been near perfet in the post season - (last rank - 2)

Honorable Mentions:

Cory Schneider - Solid Two-Way Play, Zac Dalpe - ZD is back in top gear, Anthony Perdicaro - Super-Pest has cut back his penalty minutes

Here’s Coach on Easter Sunday

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Vees win at home in OT to take a 2-0 lead up to Westside for Games 3 & 4.

McMurphy had 2G & 2A including the overtime winner.

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