vees:blog

Here are the results of the Vees Playoff Picks from the 1st Round of the NHL Playoffs.

1 point for each series winner picked. A bonus point for also selecting the number of games in the series.

Example: 1 point for picking Montreal in 4 Games, 2 Points for picking Montreal in 7 Games, No points for picking Boston in 7 Games

Points Total - Name (bonus points)

9 - Pond (3), Smith (2), Perdicaro (2), Evin (3)

8 - Knudsen (2), Pinder (2)

7 - Maxwell (1), Lebreche (1), Muchalla (1), Hengen (1)

6 - Nill (1), Mountain (0), Manderson (1), Dalpe (1), Kroshus (0), Josepher (1), Westover (1), Hextall (0), Guzzo (1)

5 - Johnston (1), Schneider (1), Krogh (0), McMurphy (0), McKenzie (1), Bettauer (0)

4 - Grossmann (0)

3 - Wagner (0)

With Friday’s 3-1 loss to Merritt the Vees now have 13 losses through 53 games. Despite the loss the Vees still hold an impressive (37-13-2-1) record that has them in top spot in the Interior.

Not impressive is the nature of the Vees losses. 7 of the Vees 13 losses have come at the hands of the 5 worst teams in the BCHL (Trail x2, Quesnel x2, Alberni, Prince George and Merritt).

Weird. Especially considering the Vees have been held point-less just twice in 16 games against Salmon Arm, Vernon and Westside.

The Vees have won 13 of their last 16. Losses to Quesnel, Alberni and Merritt (the 3 worst in the BCHL) have blemished what has been a great stretch of hockey for the club.

The Penticton Valley First Vees find themselves in the driver’s seat of the Interior Conference race for home ice after collecting 4 points last weekend. The Vees now have a magic number of 4, meaning 4 wins guarantees top spot in the Interior, while top seed in the league should go down to the wire with Nanaimo.

This weekend the Vees get a double shot of Merritt Centennials with Friday’s game in the Nichola Valley Arena and Saturday’s game at Pen Memorial. The Vees have beaten the Centenials in each of the four meetings thus far this season and can sweep the season series with a pair of wins this weekend.

The Vees have won back-to-back regular season Interior Conference titles and barring a collapse down the stretch, ‘07-‘08 will make three consecutive; quite the accomplishment for the Vees brass that took over the Panthers just 4 years ago.

Another historical feat that is within the grasp of the Vees is the BCHL goals against record set by the ‘05-’06 Vees. Currently the Vees are on pace to allow 140 goals against this season, with the record set three years ago sitting at 137. With two games against Merritt this weekend and Alberni on the schedule as well, the Vees certainly could re-write the history books. With 8 games remaining, the club needs to allow less than 15 goals to set the BCHL record.

The Merritt Centennials roster has been plagued with defections and trades this season. Gone are Erik Ruud, Johnny Mahovolich, Jordan Zalba, Kevin Koopman, Nicholas Kang, Scott Jow and Kyle McConnell while Shane Mainprize is under ‘team suspension’ leaving the Cents with a single goalie. It’s been a tough year for the historic franchise and next year will be another challenge to change the culture around the club.

While the Vees complete their home-and-home (and season series) in Trail tonight, the rest of the top 5 in the Interior Conference are doing battle.

Salmon Arm visits Vernon in a battle of 2nd and 4th… and teams with new goalies. Prince George looks for revenge in their second game in Westside in as many nights in a match-up of 3rd and 5th place teams.

Here is Murray Maxwell with the rest of the BCHL Schedule.

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