PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography
The Penticton Vees are back in action for the first time in a week as they are set to take on the Prince George Spruce Kings in Game #1 of their best-of-seven Interior Conference Semi Final series beginning on Thursday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE vs. PRINCE GEORGE
Wednesday, October 26th @ Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (7-1 Spruce Kings) (BOXSCORE)
Friday, October 29th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (3-0 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Wednesday, December 1st @ Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (5-1 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
Wednesday, January 19th @ Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (6-2 Spruce Kings) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, February 19th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (3-2 Spruce Kings) (BOXSCORE)
Friday, March 4th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (3-2 Vees) (BOXSCORE)
SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE vs. PRINCE GEORGE
Game #1: Thursday, April 14th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
Game #2: Saturday, April 16th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
Game #3: Monday, April 18th @ Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (7:00 PM)
Game #4: Tuesday, April 19th @ Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (7:00 PM)
*Game #5: Thursday, April 21st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
*Game #6: Saturday, April 23rd @ Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (7:00 PM)
*Game #7: Monday, April 25th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)
*- If Necessary
The Vees come into their second round series against the Spruce Kings following a five-game opening round series against the Trail Smoke Eaters, defeating them four games to one in the Interior Conference Quarter Finals. Penticton fell in the opening game of the series before rattling off four consecutive wins, including a 5-1 triumph in Game #5 of the series to move onto the second round.
During the regular season, the Vees and Spruce Kings split their season set three games apiece with each team winning twice at home and once on the road. A tight season set saw the final two games decided by just a goal with the Penticton and Prince George each finding a victory in those games.
Vees Regular Season Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (29-46-75)
Josh Nadeau (40-32-72)
Bradly Nadeau (20-26-46)
Brett Moravec (22-19-41)
Casey McDonald (20-17-37)
Vees Playoff Leading Scorers:
Luc Wilson (1-6-7)
Adam Eisele (1-4-5)
Bradly Nadeau (1-4-5)
Brett Moravec (3-1-4)
Casey McDonald (2-2-4)
One of the biggest performances the Vees received in the opening round of the playoffs was from their goaltender as Kaeden Lane was tight throughout the duration of the series, especially the final four games of the set. The Northern Michigan University commit leads the BCHL in qualified goaltending numbers, posting a 1.61 goals against average and a .935 save percentage in the series while being especially dominant in the final four games of the series, registering a 1.00 GAA and a .963 SV% in all of the Vees victories throughout the five-game set.
The Vees were honoured with some accolades ahead of the second round of postseason as the league’s All-Star and All-Rookie teams were unveiled. Lane was named a First Team All-Star while forward and 40-goal scorer Josh Nadeau was named as a Second Team All-Star. As for the All-Rookie team, Vees defender Ryan Hopkins was named to the group as the 17-year-old blue liner posted 7 goals and 24 assists for 31 points in his rookie season.
Just as it was throughout the regular season, defense will be a big key in the series as both teams do not surrender many goals. The Vees gave up a league-low 123 goals against this season with Prince George finishing 2nd in that department, giving up 129 goals in the regular campaign. In the playoffs, the Vees gave up just 9 goals to the Smoke Eaters in the opening round of five games while the Spruce Kings gave up 14 goals in their six-game series against the Cranbrook Bucks.
The Prince George Spruce Kings come into the second round of the playoffs following a six-game series against the Cranbrook Bucks in which they defeated the Bucks four games to two. The Spruce Kings earned a Game #6 overtime win as Rowan Miller ended the series with the winner in the extra frame.
Spruce Kings Regular Season Leaders:
Nick Rheaume (29-30-59)
John Herrington (24-30-54)
Simon Labelle (12-32-44)
Rowan Miller (22-19-41)
Luc Laylin (13-19-32)
Spruce Kings Regular Season Leaders:
Luc Laylin (5-2-7)
Nick Rheaume (2-4-6)
Simon Labelle (3-2-5)
Kolton Cousins (2-2-4)
Rowan Miller (2-2-4)
Joining the team in December, Spruce Kings forward Luc Laylin has been a big key to the offensive attack that Prince George has possessed, scoring 13 goals and adding 19 assists for 32 points in 37 regular season games. The St. Michael, Minnesota native also led the team in scoring through the opening round, amassing 5 goals and 2 assists for 7 points in the six-game set. The St. Thomas University commit scored in four of the six games in the series against the Bucks, including a pair of goals in Game #4 of the series.
Leading the Spruce Kings in scoring throughout the course of regular season, Nick Rheaume will be a key part of the Prince George offense. The Sherbrooke, Quebec native was a point-per-game player during the regular season, leading the team with 29 goals and 59 points on the campaign. The UMass-Lowell commit was especially good against the Vees, collecting 6 goals and 2 assists for 8 points in 6 head-to-head matchups with Penticton this season, including a hat-trick on October 27th.
The Vees and Spruce Kings open their best-of-seven Interior Conference Semi Final series with Game #1 on Thursday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 PM with tickets available for purchase at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC as well as online at valleyfirsttix.com.
