vees:blog

Here’s a look at the remaining games for the 6 teams in playoff position in the Interior Conference.

A quick glance shows the Penticton Vees [YELLOW HIGHLIGHT] have the most hockey to play before the end of the season (in fact they’ll play their last 10 games over just 18 days) with a dozen remaining - including 8 road games (yikes), but they do have 6 tilts against teams under .500 (most).

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks [BLUE HIGHLIGHT] have the toughest remaining schedule with just 3 left a home (fewest), 9 of 10 against teams over .500, and an average opponent winning percentage of .600 (toughest). The Primates will have to be ‘lights out’ on their 4-game road trip through the Lower Mainland Division to beat the Vipers for home ice in the Interior.

The Vipers Schedule is tough with just 4 of 11 left at home, but they have slightly weaker average opponent than the Silverbacks, and currently are just a point back with a game in hand of the Conference leaders. The Vipers and the Silverbacks have just one game remaining in the regular season.

Westside [RED HIGHLIGHT] has a ton games remaining at home (9), but do have the 2nd toughest strength of schedule. The Warriors currently hold a single point lead on the Vees for 3rd in the Conference, but have played once more than the Vees.

The Smokies have have returned from their 4 game Coastal Roadie with 3 of 8 possible points, and now have the benefit of 6 of their last 10 in Trail. 7 of their 10 remaining games are against teams over .500 including a whopping 4 with the Vernon Vipers (cringe).

The Prince George Spruce Kings [GREEN HIGHLIGHT] have the weakest strength of opponent in their final 10 games as they face Merritt and Quesnel twice each. If the Spruce Kings can get hot they could surpass the Smokies for 5th in the Interior, but the club has just 2 wins since December 12th.

Freshman Harvard Crimson Forward and member of the 2008 Fred Page Cup Champion Penticton Vees - Eric Kroshus - is starting to put up some points in NCAA action.

In Sunday’s conference game with Dartmouth, Kroshus recorded his first ever two-point game in his brief NCAA career, recording a pair of assists in a 5-5 tie. After being held off the score sheet in his first 11 games, the Calgarian has recorded 3 points in his last 4 games.

Kroshus was the winner of the 2007/2008 Academic Award and was a member of the Vees shutdown line, alongside Cory Schneider (Ohio State) and Kyle McMurphy (Not Playing), put out against the top lines of other BCHL foes.