Thursday, February 22, 2018

Interior Division Playoff Race Coming Down To The Wire:

With just four days remaining in the 2017-18 BCHL regular season, the Interior Division playoff race is coming down to the wire with the top three teams (Penticton, Wenatchee & Vernon) all fighting for the top three spots in the division.

The division/league leading Penticton Vees need just a single point in one of their final two regular season games this weekend to clinch 1st place and a league record seventh straight Interior Division Pennant. If Penticton clinches 1st the Vees would host the 5th place Coquitlam Express.

Penticton Vees Schedule:

Saturday- Wenatchee @ Penticton
Sunday- Salmon Arm @ Penticton

The Wenatchee Wild sit tied second in the Interior Division in points with the Vernon Vipers. Both teams have two games left in their regular season. A Wild victory Friday night in Vernon, would clinch 2nd place for Wenatchee playing their first season in the Interior. While the Vernon Vipers who have spent most of the regular season atop the Interior Division/overall standings until January would finish 3rd.

Wenatchee Wild Schedule:

Friday- Wenatchee @ Vernon
Saturday- Wenatchee @ Penticton

The Vernon Vipers are unsure what position they will finish, but as of now know they will likely either host the 6th place Merritt Centennials or 7th place Salmon Arm Silverbacks. If the Snakes finish 2nd in the Interior, they would host the 7th place Salmon Arm Silverbacks, if Vernon finishes 3rd the Vipers would host the 6th place Merritt Centennials. The 4th place Trail Smoke Eaters will host the 5th place West Kelowna Warriors, unless Merritt or Salmon Arm can surpass West Kelowna in the final weekend of the season.

Vernon Vipers Schedule:

Friday- Wenatchee @ Vernon
Saturday- Trail @ Vernon

The race near the bottom of the Interior Division is also very interesting. Salmon Arm sits last/7th has four games remaining, while Merritt sit 6th only two points up on the Silverbacks with three games remaining. West Kelowna cant catch 4th place Trail but has needs just one victory in one of their final two regular season games to clinch 5th place in the division.

West Kelowna Schedule:

Friday- West Kelowna @ Merritt
Saturday- West Kelowna @ Salmon Arm

Merritt Schedule:

Thursday- Salmon Arm @ Merritt
Friday- West Kelowna @ Merritt
Saturday- Merritt @ Langley

Salmon Arm Schedule:

Thursday- Salmon Arm @ Merritt
Friday- Salmon Arm @ Trail
Saturday- West Kelowna @ Salmon Arm
Sunday- Salmon Arm @ Penticton

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