vees:blog

Here’s a look at the remaining action for the Interior Conference clubs before X-mas.

(This doesn’t include Sunday’s Matinee between the Smokies and Warriors in Westside)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks

The Gorillas have won 10 in a row and look to be the most offensively gifted team in the Interior, but before crowning the Siverbacks as the Conference’s best keep in mind that they have played Merritt, Prince George and Quesnel a combined 18 times, compared to 15 games against the top tier teams (VRN, TRL, WS, PEN) in the Conference. They’re good, but have had a wimply schedule thus far, and it gets really tough, really soon…

Games Remaining before X-mas: 2 (@ VRN, vs. VRN)

Outlook: The Silverbacks face the Vipers in their last two games before the break, and then in their first two games out of the break, that’s 4 monster games in a row. The Silverbacks don’t play a team out of a playoff position or below .500 until February, a good measuring stick for the club.

Vernon Vipers

The Vipers may be the deepest team in the Interior Conference. The club has a pair of contributing 16-year-olds and returned a dozen players who were part of the only team to beat Penticton in the playoffs last season (the Vipers pushed the Vees to 7 games in the 2nd round). Young and experienced, this is a dangerous squad with no glaring weaknesses. The Vipers have teed off on PG, Quesnel, and Merritt 13 times, while facing the top tier in the Interior 16 times.

Games Remaining before X-mas: 2 (vs. SA, @ SA)

Outlook: This club in my opinion is the team to beat in the Interior Conference. If the Vipers can saw off or win the pending 4 game set with Salmon Arm their softer schedule (compared to SA) gives them the opportunity to grab top spot in the Conference.

Westside Warriors

The Warriors look a lot like the 07/08 version of the club that advanced to the Interior Conference Finals (at this time last season). The Warriors lack a true gamebreaker up front and don’t have a single forward averaging a point a game, the same as last year before they added Clinton Pettapiece from Cowichan late in the season. The strength of this club remains defending thier own end. Kevin Jebson should be an All-Star, and the D-core is one of the best in the league, led by Justin Schultz (who is averaging a point a game). the Warriors have just 7 wins in 18 games against the top tier of the Interior, struggling against the cream of the division.

Games Remaining before X-mas: 3 (vs. TRL, vs. SRY, @ PEN)

Outlook: The Warriors have a ton of home games the rest of the way. 14 of their final 22 are at Royal LePage Place, but they’ll need to take some points from the best of the Conference to hold onto 3rd.

Trail Smoke Eaters

A blue-collar team for a blue-collar community. The Smokie seem a perfect fit in Trail where their team play rather than sheer skill has this team in the thick of the battle for 3rd in the Interior. The Smokies have Conference high of 12 rookies, and Paul Barclay has likely been their MVP. The Smokies play well at home but have just 9 games in Comino in their 22 games after X-mas. Also the club has to head out the Coast for 4 games in 5 days in January.

Games Remaining before X-mas: 3 (@ WS, vs. QUE, vs. QUE)

Outlook: This club will need to win on the road to earn 3rd spot in the Conference, also the Smokies see Vernon 5 times before the end of the year… Ouch!

Penticton Vees

The Vees have been two different teams this year. The team that plays in Penticton looks like one of the best in the league, while the one that plays on the road is a fragile bunch that looks mediocre at best. The Vees have played an extremely tough schedule to date and have 9 games remaining against Merritt, PG, and Quesnel before the end of the year.

Games Remaining before X-mas: 3 (vs. MRT, vs. WS, @ MRT)

Outlook: If the Vees can find a way to win on the road they have great shot at 3rd spot in the Interior. They’ve been man-handed by Vernon, and cursed in Trail (4 OTL in 4 GP), but have a played Salmon Arm and Westside (as always) tough. Road success is a must.

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Spruce Kings flew out of the gate in September, but have been average since. The club has top end talent with 5 All-Stars (most in the Interior), but lack the depth of the top 5 in the Conference. The Spruce Kings enjoy a soft schedule with 12 games against Quesnel and 10 against Merritt, with 9 of those games remaining.

Games Remaining before X-mas: 4 (@ COW, @ NAN, @VIC, @ ALB)

Outlook: Their success on their pre-Christmas trip to the Island will go along way in determining if they can ride a soft schedule to a higher seed in the Interior.