BCHL Interior Conference Team Reports:

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BCHL Interior Conference team reports

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 /

By / Ryan Pinder

The BCHL post-season is set to begin on the 25th of February, and no team is assured of where they will finish with just a few weeks remaining. Here’s a look at each team as they jockey for playoff positions.

VERNON VIPERS

The Vipers are on quite a roll. Since the beginning of 2011, the defending champs absorbed just a single loss in regulation in their first nine tests, which has seen them take over top billing in the Interior. Ryan Renz (‘93) has already enjoyed a three-point outing and has added much needed depth to an always-solid blueline. Former Regina Pat forward Dane Muench (‘92) has a pair of points in five games since arriving at the trade deadline.

PENTICTON VEES

The Penticton Vees stood pat at the trade deadline and saw weekend sweeps of Langley and Surrey, as well as a home win over Powell River. The Vees week-long, five-game, coastal road swing is one of the bigger trips any team will embark on this season. Former OHL forward Myles McCauley’s (‘91) production has been solid since arriving in December, he has put up eight goals and three assists in a dozen games. The Vees close out the season with three home games.

SALMON ARM SILVERBACKS

Arriving as the BCHL’s leading scorers, F - Mike Hammond’s torrid pace has slowed since arriving in the Shuswap, but not by a huge margin. While Hammond was averaging 1.6 points per game with the Capitals in a huge role, he’s now averaging about a point a contest on a deeper Salmon Arm squad. Brad Reid has potted just a pair of goals in his first 13 games in purple. The Silverbacks will close out the season with a tough four-game road trip through the Coast.

WESTSIDE WARRIORS

There’s no question which team the Warriors would like to see in the first round of the playoffs. The West Kelowna side hasn’t lost to the Trail Smoke Eaters in four meetings this season, while they’ve struggled mightily with the Merritt Centennials, a team they’ve lost to five times. Fear not Warriors fans, it appears a third straight post-season meeting between the Smokies and Warriors is on tap in the 4 vs. 5 match-up. The Warriors have eliminated the Smokies in each playoff meeting.

TRAIL SMOKE EATERS

The health of the Smokies best players has been a big issue all year in the Kootenays. F - Travis St. Denis (‘93) hasn’t suited up in 2011 (lower body), while line-mate Sam Mellor (‘92) missed a stretch of five games in mid-January, but returned with five points in his first weekend back. Good thing Jim Ingram added Nic DeSousa (90) at the trade dealine, he’s added a point per game to the Trail offense since arriving from the Spruce Kings.

MERRITT CENTENNIALS

One of the best home teams in the BCHL, the Merritt Centennials, now have the privilege of finishing their season with nine of their last 13 games in the cozy confines of the Nicola Valley Arena. The Cents have been great after a sluggish start to the season. New to the roster are imports F – Blaine Bokenfohr (‘90), and D – Jon-Paul Witkop (‘91) each have added a half point per game, not to mention their physical play.

QUESNEL MILLIONAIRES

Puckstopper Bryton Udy appeared in 14 of the first 18 games the club has played since his arrival. The Mills are on pace for 141 goals this season; that’s one goal less than the lowest total in the history of the BCHL’s 60-game schedule.

PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS

After being involved in a BCHL high seven deadline transactions, it’s clear the Kings are focused on next season. Thirteen of the 18 players who remain on the club are rookies and the Kings are allowing 4.5 goals per game – a league high. The club is publically looking for a new head coach for next season.