The Penticton Vees and West Kelowna Warriors will battle for the Ryan Hatfield Memorial Trophy, the Interior Division Championship, starting Friday, March 18th, at the SOEC; presented by Boston Pizza Penticton. The two South Okanagan rivals meet in the post-season for the second straight season and the third time in the last four years.
Penticton advanced to their fifth consecutive Interior Division Final Friday, after a 5-0 shutout win over the Vernon Vipers in Game Five at the SOEC. West Kelowna is making their second trip in three years to the Division Final, and got by the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in six games in their first round match up.
Interior Division Final Schedule
GM 1: Friday, March 18th, at SOEC 7 pm
GM 2: Saturday, March 19th, at SOEC 6 pm
GM 3: Monday, March 21st, at West Kelowna 7 pm
GM 4: Tuesday, March 22nd, at West Kelowna 7 pm
GM 5: Friday, March 25th, at SOEC 7 pm *
GM 6: Saturday, March 26th, at West Kelowna 7 pm *
GM 7: Sunday, March 27th, at SOEC 6 pm *
*If necessary
Penticton had a decisive advantage in the regular season against West Kelowna, winning six of their seven meetings and by a combined score of 23-13. Penticton won all four games at the SOEC, outscoring the Tribe 16-9 in those home games. The Vees took three of four at Royal LePage Place, their only blemish was a 2-0 shutout loss on December 18th; the only time they were shutout this season.
Scott Conway led the team in scoring against West-K, compiling six goals and 12 points in six games. Conway was followed by Captain Tyson Jost (9-1-10) and defenceman Dante Fabbro (0-8-8). Anthony Brodeur and Zach Driscoll split the duties between the pipes against West-K, Brodeur picking up four wins, Driscoll three.
Jonathan Desbiens led the Warriors in scoring against Penticton, bagging five goals and six points in seven games; just ahead of teammate Liam Blackburn who also had six points (3-3-6). West Kelowna’s Matt Greenfield started the final three games of the season series against Penticton after being acquired in December, going 1-2 but did shutout the Vees on December 18th (2-0).
Last season these two teams met in the Interior Division Semi-Final, with the Vees taking that series in five games. That series was highlighted by plenty of overtime, as games One, Two and Three all went past regulation. Prior to last season, these two teams met in the 2013 Interior Division Final, which the Vees also won in five games.
Single game tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors, and students (18 and under) and children are FREE, courtesy of Peter Bros. Construction. Fans can get their tickets at the Valley First Box office (at the SOEC), or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
“Paint the Town Blue,” t-shirts will be on-sale at the Vees’ Blue Zone store for $10, and will be available to purchase for all home games in the series.
