Warriors, Vees get early morning test

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

The Warriors top line of Seb Lloyd (4), Marcus Basara (10) and David Pope (9) have contributed 19 points during a game winning streak.

A hockey players pre-game meal traditionally comprises steak or pasta.

For the West Kelowna Warriors and Penticton Vees, Tuesday's pre-game meal may consist of pancakes and cereal.

The BC Hockey League rivals meet in a rare midweek morning game Tuesday. Faceoff is 11 a.m. at Royal LePage Place.

"We practiced this morning, I don't know if that is going to be good or bad," says Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster.

"I don't know if that's going to make a difference or not. But, once guys get here everything will be the same."

The game was scheduled on the heels of a very successful pre-season game a year ago when the Warriors hosted Vernon at 11 a.m.

The catch - the game is open to elementary school children from West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and Peachland along with teachers and parents.

Ferster says in previous years, BCHL clubs would play a lot more Sunday games and those games would normally be scheduled for 2 p.m.

The Warriors come into Tuesday's tilt winners of four in a row, a streak which has allowed them to climb to within two points of the Interior Division leading Vees.

West Kelowna also has a game in hand.

"It's early and you're playing the team that won the whole country last year," says Ferster of another match-up with the Vees.

"It's exciting for us and, again they're in first place right now. It's a really good test for us."

This is the third meeting between the interior rivals early in the season - all at Royal LePage Place.

The Vees won the previous contests 4-3 in double overtime and 5-3.

In the first game the Vees scored the game tying goal with 18 seconds left in regulation time and the game winner with just 90 seconds remaining in the second overtime period.

Meantime, the Warriors come into Tuesday's game with the top ranked offence in the BCHL with 54 goals in 13 games - the only team in the league averaging more than four goals per game. The Vees have scored 50.

Both teams have allowed 29 goals although the Warriors have played one fewer game.

West Kelowna is second in the league on the penalty kill and fourth with the man advantage. Penticton is eighth best on the penalty kill and have the tenth ranked power-play.

The Warriors will suit up again Tuesday without the services of captain Max French who will miss his fifth game with a lower body injury.

Ironically, the Warriors are 4-0 with French on the shelf.

Over that span, the line of Seb Lloyd, David Pope and Marcus Basara has chipped in with 19 points. Basara has led the way with 5 goals and 3 assists. Lloyd has six assists while Pope has chipped in with two goals and three assists.

Shawn Hochhausen has also chipped in offensive with three assists while taking most of the key faceoffs. 

Tuesday's game is the first of back-to-back games between the two clubs.

The Vees will host the Warriors Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.