Season Series
Nov 26th: Chilliwack 2 at Penticton 3 (OT)
Feb 24th: Penticton 3 at Chilliwack 0
Fred Page Cup Schedule
GM 1: Penticton 2 at Chilliwack 4
GM 2: Penticton 5 at Chilliwack 1
GM 3: Chilliwack 2 at Penticton 5
GM 4: Chilliwack 3 at Penticton 4 (0T)
GM 5: Penticton 2 at Chilliwack 4
GM 6: April 24th at SOEC, 7 pm
GM 7: April 25th at Prospera Centre, 7 pm *
*If necessary
Chilliwack Progress Game 5 Recap
The Penticton Vees have a second crack at winning the Fred Page Cup tonight in Game 6 against the Chilliwack Chiefs at the SOEC.
The Chiefs forced a Game 6 after their 4-2 win Saturday back in Chilliwack, highlighted by Jordan Kawaguchi’s four-point night. Kawaguchi scored twice and added two helpers and Colin Bernard and Anthony Vincent also scored in the win.
Despite the loss, the Vees got out to a terrific start, scoring twice in the first four-minutes of the game. Captain Nicholas Jones scored a minute and a half in and Taylor Sanheim scored three and a half minutes later but it wasn’t enough, as the Vees had their three-game win streak snapped.
Penticton is chasing history tonight, as they can become the first Vees team to win the BCHL championship on home ice in 31-years. The last time Penticton won the Fred Page Cup at home was in 1986 when the Knights beat the Richmond Sockeyes in five games. Since then, the Vees last three Fred Page Cup championships have been won on the road (2008, 2012 & 2015).
One big key tonight for the Vees is going to find a way to slow down Kawaguchi. The Chiefs Captain has 13 points in five games so far in this series and has points in nine straight. Kawaguchi has either scored or assisted on 13 of the 14 goals the Chiefs have scored in this series; he’s literally a one-man wrecking crew. To take it one step further, his 41 points in the playoffs is the most in any BCHL post-season going back to 2004; the next best was 39 points by TJ Mulock of the Surrey Eagles in 2005.
Speaking of Kawaguchi, the Grand Forks Herald’s Brad Schlossman has a feature on his memorable playoff run (CLICK HERE). Kawaguchi is set to join the University of North Dakota next fall.
The Vees Captain is no slouch, as Jones is second in BCHL playoff scoring with 26 points in 19 games, and those 26 points are the most (outside of Kawaguchi) in the BCHL playoffs since 2010. Jones has a team-best nine points (3-6-9) in the Fred Page Cup.
Though they’re coming off a loss, the Vees can take comfort in playing at home, as they’re 8-2 in 10 games at the SOEC and have a plus 17 goal differential. The Vees have won five straight at home dating to April 1st against Vernon. The Vees also know how to bounce back, as they’re 18-2-1-3 following a loss (regular season + playoffs).
Chilliwack has been very good on the road, winning eight of 10 away from Prospera Centre in the post-season, and had won their first eight road games until their loss in Game Three earlier in this series. Their only two road losses this post-season have come against Penticton.
No word if the Vees make any changes to their line up ahead of Game Six, as they had iced the same line up through games two to five. One certainty is Mat Robson getting the start in goal and the Vees puck-stopper is 11-8 in the playoffs, owning a 2.32 goals-against average and has a .918 save percentage. He and Chilliwack’s Mark Sinclair have near identical numbers, as Sinclair is 14-7, sporting a 2.32 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
The Chiefs were missing forwards Tommy Lee (upper-body) and Kale Kane (undisclosed) from their line up in Game Five, but there’s no confirmation if one or both will play tonight.
Vees Playoff Scoring:
| Nicholas Jones | 10-16-26 |
| Gabe Bast | 6-11-17 |
| Chris Klack | 4-13-17 |
| Grant Cruikshank | 5-6-11 |
| Taylor Ward | 4-5-9 |
Chiefs Playoff Scoring:
| Jordan Kawaguchi | 18-23-41 |
| Kohen Olischefski | 9-13-22 |
| Jake Smith | 6-11-17 |
| Anthony Vincent | 6-11-17 |
| Will Calverley | 3-10-13 |
Fans can listen to tonight’s game starting at 6:40 pm with the pre-game show on EZ Rock AM 800 and on www.hockeytv.com, with Fraser Rodgers and Scott Austin.
Tickets are going fast, if you haven’t already, purchase your tickets at the Valley First box office (at the SOEC), online at www.valleyfirsttix.com* or over the phone toll-free at 1-877-763-2849*
(*service fees apply)
