For the third time in the last four seasons, the Penticton Vees and Vernon Vipers will battle for the Ryan Hatfield Memorial Trophy, the Interior Division Championship, starting Friday, March 31st, at the SOEC; presented by Telus PureFibre.
It’s the fourth consecutive year these two long-time Okanagan rivals will meet in the Fred Page Cup playoffs, as it was the Vees beating the Vipers in five games in the 2016 Interior Division Semi-Final.
Season Series
Oct 28th: Penticton 4 at Vernon 2
Nov 11th: Vernon 3 at Penticton 2
Nov 12th: Penticton 3 at Vernon 1
Dec 7th: Vernon 1 at Penticton 3
Jan 7th: Vernon 4 at Penticton 2
Jan 25th: Vernon 3 at Penticton 3
Jan 27th: Penticton 1 at Vernon 3
Playoff Schedule
GM 1: March 31st at SOEC, 7 pm
GM 2: April 1st, at SOEC, 6 pm
GM 3: April 3rd, Kal-Tire Place 7 pm
GM 4: April 4th, Kal-Tire Place 7 pm
GM 5: April 7th, SOEC 7 pm *
GM 6: April 8th, Kal-Tire Place 7 pm *
GM 7: April 10th, SOEC 7 pm *
*If necessary
It was a very close season series between the two teams, as they split the seven games, each winning three times and tying once. The Vees won two of four games at the SOEC and two of three in Vernon at Kal-Tire Place. Grant Cruikshank led the Vees in scoring against Vernon in the regular season, scoring six goals in seven games. Right behind him was Taylor Ward (3-3-6) and Chris Klack (1-5-6). Jagger Williamson was the top point producer against the Vees for Vernon, picking up a goal and six points in six games. Following him was Niko Karamanis (4-1-5) and Brett Stapley (2-3-5).
Mat Robson was 3-3-1-0 against the Vipers, posting a 2.39 goals-against average and had a .919 save percentage.
Single game tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and are available at the Valley First Box Office (at the SOEC), or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com. Local students and children (18 and under) are FREE courtesy of Peter Bros. Construction.
Western Canada Cup ticket packages are also on sale, including the newly introduced “Vees Only” package. That’s the Vees’ round-robin games at the WCC, plus the playoff round (seven games) for just $130. Full tournament packages (13 games) are on sale for $179. Fans can purchase their playoff & Western Canada Cup packages by phoning the Vees’ Ticket Office at 250-493-8337 (extension 4).
