Penticton Vees vie for attendance record this weekend

PENTICTON – The Penticton Vees could add a gold lining to a successful season with a strong turnout from their fans for the team’s final three regular home games this weekend.

David Michaud with the hocky team says to the best of his knowledge, no Canadian Junior A Hockey club has averaged more than 3,000 spectators per game through the season.

“We’re averaging 2,922 going into tonight’s game,” Michaud says. “We’ll need to average 3,500 over the next three games to make (the record) happen."

Michaud says Saturday night’s, Feb. 18, attendance is solid, but the Vees could use a few more fans for tonight’s game, Feb. 17, at the South Okanagan Events Centre and Sunday’s, Feb. 19, afternoon match. The Vees take on West Kelowna Warriors tonight, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks tomorrow and the Victoria Royals on Sunday.

The Vees have had 10 games so far this season in which attendance surpassed the 3,000 mark.

“We’ve had a spectacular season at the gates this year and we’ve been really proud of our product,” Michaud says.

With three games in three days left on the home schedule, Michaud acknowledges filling the stands could be a tough task. Still, this weekend marks the last time residents can watch a home game for the next month, with the Vees next home game scheduled for Friday, Mar. 17, their first playoff game.

“We’re urging fans, it you have it in you, to come out. We really want to see you,” Michaud says.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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