vees:blog

3-1 Vernon.

Round Two: Saturday in Penticton at 7:00. 6:30 Pre-game on EZ Rock.

The Vees need a single point or a Westside loss or tie to clinch home ice.

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Vipers Mark Ferner

Vees Fred Harbinson

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Hard to believe, but the BCHL playoffs begin in just a single, solitary week! While the Penticton Valley First Vees won’t be taking part in the first round, having clinched a bye, the club does still have a lot on the line this weekend against Vernon. The Vees need a single point or a Westside loss or tie to clinch home ice for the post season, and the way the Warriors and Vipers have played in the new year, that isn’t a given.

This weekend’s home-and-home rematch of last years Interior Conference final has certainly caught the interest of the hockey fans in Vernon. Tonight’s attendance at the Vernon Multiplex should be close to 3000, as the Vipers had sold 2500 tickets mid-way through the week. Vees fans would be wise to get tickets for tomorrow’s back end of the home-and-home, as the two clubs will be sending messages to each other, knowing they could meet in the playoffs for what would be a very physical series.

Vipers fans have had a lot to cheer about in the New Year with the arrival of re-enforcements after the team suffered 3 defections in the Fall. Andrew Hammond now patrols the Vipers crease as the number one goalie, while Kevin Kraus and Justin Palazzo have beefed up the blue-line, and Greg Beller’s big body has added depth up front.

The Vees have had Vernon’s number this season, posting 3 wins and a loss in 4 games, but the Vees haven’t seen the new look Vipers since adding all the parts mentioned above. Should the Vees earn a point or two tonight, it will be interesting to see what kind of roster Fred Harbinson puts on the ice tomorrow. One could justify a night off for many of the Vees best, but with the Vees first playoff game slated for the 7th of March, Coach Harbinson may not see any value in an extra day of rest.

As mentioned, the Vees will open their 2008 post-season play on March 7th and 8th with back-to-back home games. Playoff tickets are now available at the Vees office in Memorial Arena (493-8337). A wise man once said ‘the sooner you buy your playoff tickets, the better the view’… Or, did I just make that up? Either way, I’m sure it’s true! For info see the teams website.

The Vees are relatively healthy moving into the post-season. Anthony Perdicaro and Denver Manderson we’re both scratched in last weekend’s monster win in Surrey, but will have the bye to heal their ‘bumps and bruises’. The two centers are less than 100%, but will likely play in the post-season opener, but are doubtful for this weekend’s action against Vernon.

Next week on ‘Boston Pizza Vees This Week’ Chad Campbell and I catch up with soon to be drafted rookie Zac Dalpe and super sixteen-year-old wrecking ball Curtis Mackenzie as they sign autographs at Boston Pizza. Also, we’ll take a close look at the four first round match-ups in the BCHL playoffs and make our fearless prognostications. That’s all Monday night, 6:00 ‘til 7:00 on EZ Rock AM 800

Nearly 300 Vees Fans packed the Lakeside Resort in Penticton Last Night for the annual awards banquet. The 1953-54 Allan Cup Champion Penticton Vees were honoured at the event and there were a handful of moving speeches throughout the evening.

And the winnners are….

Best Conditioned Athlete - Bryan Mountain

Academic Award - Eric Kroshus

Most Inspirational Player - Brett Hextall

Humanitarian Award - Devon Krogh

Unsung Hero - Michael Guzzo

Most Sportsmanlike Player - Trevor Nill

Fan Favorite - Brett Hextall

Robert Skinner Award of Courage - Denver Manderson

Vees Favorite - Nic Knudsen

Leading Point Producer - Brett Hextall

Most Improved Player - Curtis McKenzie

Rookie of the Year - Zac Dalpe

Best Defenceman - Ryan Wagner

Most Valuable Player - Alex Evin

Playoff MVP - ?!

The Penticton Valley First Vees close out their 60 game regular season with a home-and-home with the Vernon Vipers this weekend. The Okanagan rivals are both playoff bound and know a meeting in the playoffs is a distinct possibility. A big crowd is expected Friday in Vernon and in Saturday season finale, here in the Penticton.

Currently the Vees need just a single point or a Westside loss or tie to claim top spot in the Interior Conference, while Vernon can’t finish lower than 4th, and are a long shot for a bye with Salmon Arm and Westside above them in the standings.

The last time the Vees and Vipers met was December 2nd, here in Penticton, with the home side winning 7-2 in a game that saw 8 fights and the unveiling of the Vees 3rd Jerseys. The Vees have tweaked their roster since that game, but the Vipers have changed their team more drastically, acquiring Andrew Hammond (from Surrey to replace ‘number one’ goalie Bryce Christianson who jumped early to college), two big Western League defensemen (Justin Palazzo and Kevin Kraus), college drop-out Greg Beller, and Justin Thomas – a Merritt ‘clearance sale’ pick-up.

What an incredible season Hunter Bishop is having with the Vipers. The 20-year-old sniper currently has 57 goals in 57 games (Wednesday’s hosting of Salmon Arm not included), an incredible feat in todays BCHL. In fact Bishop and Burnaby’s Brodie Reid (who has 51) are the only two players who have eclipsed the 40-goal mark this season. While Bishop missed 50 in 50 by one game (he got 50 in 51), he may indeed get 60 in 60. By contrast the Vees leading sniper is rookie Austin Smith who has 32 goals in 58 games.

Both games start at 7:00 with our pre-game show starting at 6:30 on EZ Rock.