vees:blog

KINGS FALL

Hats off to the Prince George Spruce Kings for their valiant efforts and a fantastic series of hockey over the past 6 days. Though the Vees move on to face Vernon Friday Night, the Caribou club can be proud of the play and the successes they enjoyed against the Vees.

20-year-olds Matt Lees, Zach Davies, Vinny Muchalla, Jordan Simpson and Brandon Busse closed out their Jr. careers with class and nearly led the underdog club to an improbable round 1 victory.

Ed Dempsey’s club was as cagey and prepared each night as they could have been. The top line assembled by the Kings (S. Muchalla, Ambroise, Pickering) nearly upset a more talented Penticton team with an epic home performance in Games 3 & 4.

With Zach Davies gone Sam Muchalla will likely step in as captain of this club next season. Expect big things from the darty forward in his 19-year-old season.

PENTICTON @ VERNON

Get Angry! One of the longest and nastiest hockey rivalries in BC will add a new chapter over the next 2 weeks. The Vees and Vipers played a classic 7-Game series last season which the Vees won and translated into their first title in 22 years.

This season the Vipers are the bye rested top seed and the Vees the surging underdog.

The hate has been on since 1951 and won’t be stopping any time soon!

Games 1 & 2 run Friday from the Wesbild Centre in Vernon. Games 3 & 4 are Tuesday and Wednesday in Penticton.

ValleyFirstTix.com or the SOEC Boxoffice to get your seats to what is shaping up to be a battle for the ages.

Elimination.

Avoid it!

Two patterns have formed in this opening round best-of-five series since heading North on Sunday.

1) The home team wins

It’s true… teams in white are 4/4 and the efforts have been decisive. Home teams for whatever reason (last change, crowd, friendly rink bounces) have dictated the way the game has been played and have scored first in each game. The home team hasn’t lost a lead in a single game this series.

2) Prince George can beat the Vees

After 6 straight loses in the regular season, and 2 to start this playoff match-up the Spruce Kings are suddenly brimming with confidence after their first two wins against the Vees have come in the past 2 nights. Sam Muchalla looks healed and dangerous after getting injured on Jan 3rd, and showing rust in his return to the line-up in Penticton in games 1 & 2.

Only one trend will prevail.

Puck Drop is at 7:05, Pre-Game at 6:45 at the SOEC if you are curious to see how this all plays out.

ValleyFirsttix.com or the SOEC box office for your seat to a season ending game for one of these clubs.