Vees getting healthy in time for busy stretch, starting tonight
Penticton hosts Coquitlam, also faces Merritt and West Kelowna this week
Slowly, but surely, the Penticton Vees project to reach a full complement of forwards and defencemen over the course of three games in four nights this week.
The Vees take on the upstart Coquitlam Express in the second “Wicked Wednesday” home game of the season tonight at 7 p.m. at the SOEC. Penticton visits Merritt on Friday and is back home to face West Kelowna on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Forward Matthew Byrne returns tonight after missing one game with a bruised hip. Forward Luke Loheit returns Friday in Merritt after what will be an eight-game absence due to mononucleosis.
And on Saturday, captain/centre Massimo Rizzo makes his long-awaited season debut after recovering from a lower-back injury sustained in off-season training.
Defenceman Kenny Johnson? He’s back, too, on Saturday after serving the last two games of his three-game suspension.
So, while the Vees will play three players under the maximum tonight, they should have the full allotment of 12 forwards, six defencemen and of course the two goaltenders by Saturday.
“That’s assuming everything goes as planned,” said Vees GM/head coach Fred Harbinson, who has seen enough the last few seasons to know that it’s by no means a certainty. “But we are aiming to add and not subtract.”
In the interim, after another great few days of practice, the coach said he is “quite comfortable” to roll with 10 forwards and five defencemen for tonight.
Harbinson said Coquitlam will be a handful. The Express (11-5-1) are easily the most improved team in the league this season, though the renaissance started in the second half of 2017-18 when Jason Fortier took over as head coach.
“They’ve brought in some real good players and the coach has done a great job helping change the culture,” said Harbinson. “He doesn’t let anyone accept the easy way out . . . he makes everyone accountable.”
Harbinson stressed the Express — with the second-most points in the BCHL — aren’t doing it with smoke and mirrors.
“They’re legit, they’re for real,” said Harbinson. “We’ve watched them a lot. They’re creating chances with speed and pressure. Their defence is very active in the offensive zone. They do a lot of little switch plays and we’ve certainly got to be on our toes. It should be a real good, fast hockey game.”
Joshua Wildauer, Regan Kimens and impressive rookie Dallas Farrell lead a balanced attack with 18 points, while Chase Danol leads in goals with 10.
The Vees, as per usual, are practically impenetrable on home ice with a perfect 5-0 record, 20 goals for and only five against at the SOEC this season.
“We take a lot of pride in our home record,” said Harbinson. “We want to protect what we’ve built over time here, whether it’s a divisional or non-divisional opponent.”
Rookie Derek Krall, who has been terrific when called upon, gets the call in goal for the Vees tonight.
“He’s just been outstanding in practice and deserves to get some starts,” said Harbinson.