Tonight the Penticton Vees (43-6-1-0) have a chance to raise another banner to the rafters, when they take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (19-24-3-3) in the conclusion of their Island Division road trip. One point tonight would secure the Vees’ their second consecutive Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy as BCHL regular season champions.
Penticton took one step closer to clinching first place overall with their 6-1 win in Nanaimo on Friday night. It was a highly anticipated matchup between the two top teams in the BCHL but it turned out to be a one sided affair, as Tyson Jost bagged a hat-trick in the Vees’ fourth win in a row and ninth in their last 10 games.
Outside of Jost, the Vees got goals from Luke Voltin, Nic Jones and Dixon Bowen and Anthony Brodeur kicked-out 22 of 23 shots for his 25th win of the season. Sheldon Rempal scored the only Clippers goal, on a power-play late in the first period, as the Vees swept the two-game season series with the Clips.
Weyerhaeuser Arena is tonight’s venue in Port Alberni and the Bulldogs are scratching and clawing for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Island Division. It was a big win for the ‘Dogs on Friday, doubling up the Victoria Grizzlies 4-2 at home and in the process, moved with two points of the Grizz for the final playoff spot on the Island.
Due to the BCHL Showcase, this is the third meeting between these two non-divisional foes, as the Vees scored a 4-1 win back on September 24th in Chilliwack at the Showcase, and they tied 4-4 at the SOEC on December 5th. Last year the Vees were shutout 3-0 at the “Dog Pound” at the tail end of their Island road trip.
One change to the line-up from the previous two games sees Zach Driscoll get the start in goal. Driscoll won in a relief appearance on Thursday in Victoria and is 17-4 on the season with a 2.03 goals-against average and owns a .930 save percentage. Gabe Bast, Desi Burgart and David Eccles are once again scratched due to injury.
One story line this weekend is the play of Dixon Bowen on the Vees’ blue-line, as the converted forward has two goals and three points in two games on the back-end, after moving back to help fill the void left by the injuries to Bast and Eccles. One other story to follow is Scott Conway’s point streak which is at 15-games and counting. His streak started on December 10th and he has 20 goals and 34 points since.
Alberni Valley, despite being on the outside looking in, has been playing some of their best hockey of the season. The Bulldogs have won three straight and four of their last five, and has mentioned are on the bumper of the Grizzlies for a playoff spot. Tonight is the first of four games against Interior Division teams over their final nine games of the regular season; they’re 4-4-1-0 against the Division.
