vees:blog

No tattoo here, just a 3-year contract extension for one of the best coaches to deal with (in my humble opinion) in the BCHL.

Jim Ingram has orchestrated quite a turnaround since last season where the Smokies were a sinking ship from December on.

The Smokies 12 rookies is the most in the league… Wow!

Shawn Mullin has tons more over at the Smokies Blog.

Newly acquired Brodie Reid and Derik Johnson played big roles in last night’s 3-1 win over the Westside Warriors.

Brodie Reid had two goals in the first 5 minutes and put a Warriors club that has struggled to score with regularity in a early hole. The pair of tallies were Reid’s first two as a member of the Vees in his third game in his new home. Reid will suit up at the Jan 14th All-Star Game in Vernon as a member of the Coastal Conference Squadron.

On the back end Derik Johnson, who was getting slivers in Cedar Rapids of the USHL before arriving in Penticton late Monday Night, was a physical and steady presence despite first game nerves. Johnson earned our rock hard hit of the game and adds much needed depth to a young d-core that has seen the departure of 20-year-olds Nathan Westover and Nicholas Goyens in recent weeks.

Here’s how the virgin Vees viewed the victory.

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Here’s a break down of the Interior Conference team schedules from now until the X-mas break.

Of Note:

- Quesnel and Merritt have the toughest strength of schedule. They play each other just once and the rest of their opponents are above .500.

- Prince George has a whopping 10 games remaining, with just 2 at home. That’s more than a game every other day from now until their X-mas break and a whole lot of bus time. It’s a tough time of year for their lone Coastal Trip.

- Westside and Penticton have the weakest opponents the rest of the way each facing Merritt twice (.182 W%) keeps their strength of opponent down

- Westside play 5 of their remaining 7 at home, but have played 3 more games that division leading Salmon Arm

- Penticton have just 2 games remaining (for the price of one) at home, meaning they’ll have to get it done on the road if they are to climb the standings.