vees:blog

The Doyle Cup opens tonight in Camrose.

Here’s the Edmonton Sun’s Jonathan Huntington on the Camrose Kodidak’s approach against the Vees, and on ‘the trade’ which we’re sure to hear more about as this series unfolds.

Here’s my weekly Penticton Western News column

The AJHL Powerhouse Camrose Kodiaks stand between the Penticton Valley First Vees and their first National Championship in over 2 decades. The Doyle Cup kicks off tonight in Camrose, Alberta, pitting the BCHL’s best against the AJHL’s best for the right to represent the ‘Pacific’ region at the 2008 Royal Bank Cup in Cornwall, Ontario.

A franchise just 11 years young, the Camrose Kodiaks have quickly become recognized as the best hockey program in the AJHL with Boris Rybalka acting as the brains of the operation for the last decade.

Tuesday’s 2-0, Game 7 victory over the Fort McMurray Oil Barons marked the 5th AJHL title for the Kodiaks including their second straight Enerflex Cup, and 3rd in 4 years.

Not only have the Kodiaks been the cream of the Alberta Jr. ‘A’ Hockey League, but the team also has a perfect record in Doyle Cup showings, winning all four of the best of seven series they’ve battled in. The Kodiaks have advanced to the National Championship in 2007, 2005, 2003 and winning the Royal Bank Cup in 2001 in their maiden trip to the tournament.

If the Vees were looking for a stiffer test after reeling off nine consecutive victories in the BCHL playoffs against the best the league had to offer, the blue, black and white may have found a worthy adversary.

Penticton has home ice for the series, as action moves from Alberta to B.C.. The format of the Royal Bank Qualifier is as such; the series opens with a pair in the brand new, 40 million dollar, 2500 seat - 2008 home of the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge, Encana Arena (in the Edgeworth Centre). Should the Vees or the Kodiaks win both games the series will return to Penticton for Game 3 and the remainder of the series. Should the opening pair be split between the foes, Game 3 will be Sunday in Camrose (3rd Game in 3 days) before the remainder of the series is played in Memorial Arena. The scheduling is confusing at first glance, but is designed to keep travel as minimal as possible, while trying to split the series evenly between the two communities.

Call the Vees office at 493-8337 for tickets and take painkillers for headaches caused by the scheduling.

Interestingly, these two clubs were involved in a deal mid-season that saw Eric Kroshus swapped for Alex MacLeod and Nigel Dube. As weird as it may sound, it is a deal that has paid dividends for both teams. Any slight edge in the deal will likely be based on how this series tips.

For the first time in this post season, the Vees will open a series on the road. The BCHL Champs have had quick starts thus far in the playoffs: 6-0 in the opening pair of each series. Another opening pair would go a long way in securing a berth in the Royal Bank Cup.

Radio 7:00, Puck Drop 7:30.