BCHL Interior Conference Playoff Preview:

This is in the BC Hockey Now Newspaper:

BCHL Interior Conference Playoff Preview

Thursday, February 24, 2011 /

By Ryan Pinder /

The Final Week of February brings the BCHL playoffs to a dozen BCHL markets, as the 60-game dress rehearsal gives way to best-of-seven match-ups that pave the way to the National Championship in Camrose, Alta. come May.
It appears it will be quite a feat to escape the Interior Conference this season given the parity shown through the regular season. There are five very good hockey clubs that are legitimate contenders; the others aren’t slouches either. Here’s a look at the first round match-ups.

Vernon Vipers (1)

The Vipers wrapped up their third consecutive Interior Conference pennant with a 36-win campaign that saw the defending back-to-back national champions require overtime in a mind-boggling 20 games. Their first place finish and first round bye means the Vipers won’t play a game for 15 days. No question, the Vipers will be healthy when they host their first playoff game on March 8, but will there be rust? Coach Mark Ferner has dealt with the bye for the last two post-seasons; the Vipers will be ready.

Penticton (2) vs. Quesnel (7)

The Vees got some help from the Coquitlam Express on the final day of the regular season, coming in the form of a 10-5 win over Salmon Arm. The Vees have finished with 20 or more home wins in each of Fred Harbinson’s four-year tenure. The Vees draw a favorable match-up with the Quesnel Millionaires – a team they beat five times in six tilts. The Vees’ powerplay finished the season at 28 per cent and will face the second most penalized team in the Interior.
The Mills survived a scare in the final weeks of the season as a surging Prince George team ran out of games in their attempt to earn the final playoff spot. The health of G - Bryton Udy (‘93) is of note, he missed the final week of the season with a concussion. The Mills are in tough with a deep Penticton club, and a second season with a first round upset may be too much to ask of a young club.

Salmon Arm (3) vs. Merritt (6)

The Silverbacks did their best to earn second spot - including the team chartering a flight from the lower mainland to Powell River - on a four-game and five-day roadie that ended their regular season. The Gorillas couldn’t complete the feat, no thanks to flight delaying weather or a Coquitlam Express club on a roll. The silver lining is that F - Mike Hammond (‘90) won the scoring title with 93 points. Salmon Arm swept the season series with the Centennials, but three were one-goal games.
The Centennials closed out a season of organizational growth with a rough month that saw more losses than wins, but the Cents beat Trail and Vernon down the stretch. A big and physical group on the blueline will be given the daunting task of slowing down a deep and talented group of Salmon Arm forwards. The Cents will be leaning heavily on G - Lino Chemienti (‘91), who has been great since arriving in the Fall. Luke Pierce will have this group’s blue collars on display.

Westside (4) vs. Trail (5)

Surprisingly, the Warriors finished the season as the highest scoring club in the BCHL, with a veteran laden group of forwards led by Grayson Downing (‘92) and captain Alex Grieve (‘90). The Warriors have ended the Smokies season in each of the last two years, and won all six games against Trail this season. No question which team has the mental edge in this match-up. Neither Cole Holowenko (‘93) nor Kevin Boyle (‘92) have had any significant BCHL playoff experience stopping pucks.
The Smoke Eaters have had fits with the Warriors over the past few seasons, so perhaps it is fitting that they’ll have to overcome that obstacle in the first round if they are to make a run in this season of opportunity. While there isn’t much of an edge up front or on the blue-line in this series, one area the Smokies are at an advantage in is between the pipes. G - Kiefer Smiley (‘90) has led the Smokies with solid play all season.

Prince George Spruce Kings (did not qualify)

The Spruce Kings have missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. Interim Head Coach Dave Dupas had his club playing great hockey down the stretch, but the revival came too late in the season. The good news is that all but two members of the Spruce Kings young roster can return next season. Plus, 6-6, 230-pound rearguard Ben Woodley (‘91) looks like a great find on the back end.