vees:blog

With the Vees out of action this week (they don’t play again until the 21st of October) this weekend provides an opportunity to get a better look at some of the other story lines around the BCHL.

The Vernon Vipers will make their first Northern road trip as the head to the Caribou for 3 games in four nights. It’s tough to foresee Vernon leaving any points on the table against PG, Quesnel or Williams Lake, though they did lose once in PG last year (it was a full moon and the Vees lost in Quesnel that night too).

The Westside Warrriors and Merritt Centennials have a home-and-home series this weekend with the defensively inept Merritt Centennials. Warriors snipers Cam Reid and Trevor Bailey will have an opportunity to climb the BCHL’s list of points leaders, but will have to play better than they did a few Sunday’s ago where they needed a late rally to win in OT against Merritt at home. A safe bet would be placing money on the Warriors scoring on the man advantage… Lots. The Warriors have the top PP in the league, while the Cents are the worst at killing penalties.

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks head to the Island in the first visit of an Interior team across the Salish Sea (more commonly known as the Straight of Georgia). The Silverbacks will be a good barometer of the quality of the Island opponents the that the Vees will face next week. Saturday features the two Conference runner-up teams when the Gorillas are in Victoria to face the Grizzlies. YouTube says the Silverbacks will win!!!

Trail makes a curious trip to the coast with 2 games on the island and two games in the lower mainland. Did BC Ferries draw up this trip for the Smokies?! The Smokies play Burnaby on Wednesday, then head to the island to play Nanaimo and Cowichan before hitting up Surrey on the way home. This trip nessesitates a second trip to the Island (read: more expen$$$ive ferry trips) than if they were to play all the Island teams in a single visit. Maybe Jim Ingram really likes the Ferry Clam Chowder.

Prince George, Williams Lake (coming off a undefeated bye week!!) and Quesnel get some home action with Langley and Powell River visiting from the coast as well as the aforementioned Vipers. No easy prey for the home teams on this visit.

A rare Monday game sees the Powell River Kings in Billy’s Pond (home of the T-wolves), and Salmon Arm will host the Kings 4th Interior game on Tuesday after returning from the Island… that will be the lactic acid/cement legs game of the week… Take the under!

In the foam noodle fight of the week, fans in Duncan will witness two of the league’s wimpiest offenses as the Cowichan Valley Capitals host the Trail Smoke Eaters on Sunday… Take the under!

Round II of the Bestwick/Graham (Professor/Student) match-up goes Saturday from the Dog Pound in Alberni where the Alberni is (5-1-0-0) and beat Nanaimo two weeks ago. Round III comes a week from Friday!