BCHL REPORT - Junior Hockey News
Published: Tuesday, 26 Sep 2017
By: Stephen Heisler | Web site: JuniorHockey.com
The BCHL Report is a weekly look at Canada’s British Columbia Hockey League. The BCHL Insider is exactly that...a coach, or employee, with incredible insight into the league.
ISLAND
Powell River (4-1-1-0) – Head Coach Kent Lewis’ Kings can score in bunches, that’s been proven in three of their wins where they tallied 26 times. The problem has been in the low scoring affairs. The season is still young and these things tend to balance themselves out. The Kings are a very dangerous bunch that will give every team on the schedule fits. Alberni Valley visits Saturday night. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This team has a lot of firepower and is very tough in their home rink. Could be a long night for the Bulldogs.
Nanaimo (4-1-0-1) – Head Coach Mike Vandekamp’s Clippers looked solid at the BCHL Showcase, taking both the high-powered Chiefs and Wild to double overtime each day. Nanaimo travels to Weyhaeuser Arena Friday to face the Bulldogs. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: A good start but this team will have its hands full trying to keep up with Powell River and Victoria all year.
Victoria (4-2-0-0) – Craig Didmon’s Grizzlies picked up a pair of wins at the Showcase, again proving the point that Victoria will be a force this season. Vernon comes to The Q Friday before Langley visits Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: It was a convincing win over Prince George, but Vernon will provide a solid challenge. The Grizzlies will need to be consistent to keep up with Powell River.
Alberni Valley (1-3-0-1) – Matt Hughes’ Bulldogs proved to everyone in the building that this team is out to prove something this season. Alberni Valley took Vernon to double overtime before ending the game in a draw. Go ahead and ask the Vees what their thoughts are about the Bulldogs too, the Vees needed a pair of 3rd period goals to get past the Dogs. Nanaimo comes to town Friday before the Bulldogs visit Powell River on Saturday. Langley is in on Sunday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Bulldogs have some early season swagger but if they don’t start converting some W’s it’ll be same old, same old at Weyerhauser Arena.
Cowichan Valley (1-4-0-1) – No, the Capitals are not going to be content with a single win in five games to start the season. The pair of one-goal losses at the Showcase proves that the slow start is more of an unlucky issue than anything else. Let’s see what happens this weekend with visits to Wenatchee, Merritt, and Coquitlam. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This weekend schedule is a lot tougher than it looks. Merritt and Coquitlam are 0-10-1 between them but the travel alone will exhaust the Caps.
INTERIOR
Trail (4-1-1-0) – Head Coach Cam Keith’s Smokies are sitting pretty atop the Interior and have to be all smiles. Trail picked up two big wins at the Showcase and will be trying to hold onto that momentum when Chilliwack visits Friday night. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Trail plays hard at home and they’ve got enough veterans to make some noise. Chilliwack is reeling but won’t stay down for long.
Vernon (4-1-0-1) – Head Coach Mark Ferner can’t be all that excited about the Vipers’ offense after lighting the lamp only twice at the Showcase. Water under the bridge boys, I’m thinking the flow will be back in time for this weekend’s trip to Victoria, Nanaimo, and Surrey. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Vernon is a team that’s built to endure through a long season. Look for the Snakes to get 4 or 5 of the 6 points on the swing.
Penticton (4-0-0-0) – Head Coach Fred Harbinson’s Vees picked up the expected wins at the Showcase. Alberni Valley presented more problems than expected while the win over Chilliwack was interesting enough. West Kelowna visits Friday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Face it, Penticton is Penticton. They’ll be ready to go at the SOEC on Friday.
West Kelowna (4-1-0-0) – Coach Rylan Ferster’s Warriors picked up two big wins at the Showcase and will look to maintain that trend when they visit Langley and Penticton this week. Chilliwack visits Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Are the Warriors really a 4-1-0 team, or have they caught some early season breaks? After this three-game set, we’ll have a lot better picture of how good this team really is.
Wenatchee (3-1-0-1) – Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler is content with his team’s effort at the Showcase; getting the shutout win over Langley was a huge plus. Cowichan Valley visits Town Toyota Center this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This team is a typical Bliss Littler team, with skill and speed. And his teams win. Only one Wild game this week means an uphill battle for the Capitals this week.
Salmon Arm (2-4-0-0) – Head Coach Scott Atkinson’s team took advantage of their opportunities at Showcase, getting their first two wins of the season. Coquitlam and a dangerous Trail both visit the Shaw Centre this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Home ice will help, but it will still be two hard fought battles with Coquitlam looking for their first win and Trail being a division game.
Merritt (0-6-0-0) – Head Coach Joe Martin’s Cents are not nearly as bad as their zero for six record may indicate. Look for Merritt to break through this week with Surrey, Cowichan Valley, and Prince George visiting. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The best place for Merritt to snap out of their funk is on the small ice surface at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Expect three points for the Cents.
MAINLAND
Prince George (4-1-0-1) – Head Coach Adam Maglio’s Spruce Kings were beaten for the first time this season at the Showcase; a 5-0 shutout at the hands of Victoria. How will they respond? Prince George visits Surrey, Coquitlam, and Merritt this week to give us the answer. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Prince George surprised a lot of people in the playoffs last year and that momentum has carried over to the new season. The loss to Victoria was just a bump in the road.
Langley (2-1-2-0) – Head Coach Bobby Henderson’s boys were shutout at the Showcase by Wenatchee and will have to find a way to reverse the course in time for tonight’s home battle with West Kelowna. The Rivermen visit Victoria and Alberni Valley Saturday and Sunday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Rivermen have a tendency to be their own worst enemy. If they can avoid those mistakes, they can be more of a threat.
Chilliwack (1-3-1-1) – Head Coach Jason Tatarnic is navigating some unfamiliar territory; his team has only one win in six games so far this season. That’s not going to cut it and I’m thinking things are going to get turned around in a hurry. The Chiefs visit Trail and West Kelowna this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This start is completely unacceptable for a team set to host the RBC. If they don’t come home from the Interior Division swing with 4 points, watch for a fistful of roster moves to begin.
Surrey (1-3-1-1) – Brandon West’s Eagles are winless in five straight games after opening the season with a win on September 8th. West knows what takes to find success within the league and will do whatever it takes to get that job done. The Eagles visit Merritt tomorrow night before hosting Prince George and Vernon Friday and Sunday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This team has some talent as good as anyone in the league. Just not enough of them. Lack of depth is a problem that will continue to give the Eagles trouble. Still, at home, they’re perfectly capable of stealing a game from anyone.
Coquitlam (0-4-0-1) – Barry Wolf’s Express are still looking for the first win of the season after dropping both of their games at the BCHL Showcase. Coquitlam visits Salmon Arm Friday before hosting Prince George and Cowichan Valley Saturday and Sunday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Coach Barry Wolff has the tough task of turning around an atmosphere that’s become conditioned to accept defeat. They’ll get a taste of victory this weekend.
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