Vees host Smoke Eaters tonight in Wicked matchup

Penticton holds razor-thin edge in season series with double-overtime win, one-goal win and loss

If the season series is any indication, tonight’s tilt between the Penticton Vees and the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters should be a dandy.

The Vees (29-6-1) won a 3-2 double-overtime thriller against the Smokies (17-17-4) on Oct. 1, then dropped a 5-3 decision Nov. 30. The clubs met again Dec. 14, when Penticton skated away with a 4-3 victory.

The Vees last saw action Dec. 30, when they scratched out a 4-2 win over Merritt on the same night the Smokies blanked West Kelowna 4-0.

Trail is led offensively by Kale Howarth, who has 23 goals and 45 points, and Luke Santerno, who’s netted 23 goals and 44 points. They sit eighth and ninth, respectively, in the BCHL scoring race.

Penticton’s top point-getter is Nicholas Jones, who has 13 goals and 26 assists, followed by Grant Cruikshank with 25 goals and 11 helpers.

The Vees enter tonight’s game with 59 points, good for first overall in the Interior Conference, with the Vernon Vipers well back at 45 and the Smoke Eaters further still at 38.

Taylor Sanheim, a WHL veteran whom the Vees acquired this week, is expected to make his debut when the puck drops at 7 p.m. at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

It being Wicked Wednesday, admission is just $5 for adults and seniors, beer is $3.75 and fountain pop $2.50. Students under the age of 18 are admitted free courtesy of Peter Bros. Construction.