Vees and Vipers on collision course
David Crompton/Penticton Herald
Wednesday, October 4th 2017
It’s the team with the most wins and most points against the team with the best winning percentage.
It’s two teams who have been bitter rivals for more than 50 years and have combined for 24 B.C. Hockey League championships.
It’s the Vipers and the Vees clashing for the first time this season and they’ll do it not once, but twice, on the Thanksgiving weekend.
Vernon (7-1-1) and Penticton (5-0-0) meet Friday at 7 p.m. at the South Okanagan Events Centre – their first meeting since the Vees won Game 7 of the Interior Division final this past April at the SOEC.
The two clubs will lock horns again Saturday at 6 p.m. at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.
“It’s a team we’ve knocked out of the playoffs (three years in a row) and there’s no doubt they’ll be coming here with some snarl,” said Vees president, GM and head coach Fred Harbinson. “We talked about it with our guys (Wednesday). We’ve got to have the same kind of mentality.
“That’s a real good, first-place team coming in here. It’s a measuring stick for us.”
Of course, it will be as much - or moreso - a measuring stick for the upstart Vipers. The Vees have won six straight Interior Division pennants and three BCHL titles during that span from 2012 to 2017.
“It’s going to be an exciting weekend with two good teams off to strong starts,” said Harbinson. “There has been a lot built up over the last few years. The fans in both cities will be in for a real treat.”
The numbers are somewhat skewed since the Vees have played four fewer games, but Harbinson agreed both teams have more offensive depth than last season.
“They’ve got four lines and a multitude of guys on the back end who can contribute offensively,” said Harbinson. “We’re similar teams in a lot of ways.”
The Vipers power play has been red-hot, scoring 12 times in 42 chances for a 28.6 per cent clip, second only to the Wenatchee Wild at 28.9 per cent (the Vees are at 19.4 per cent).
“We know what they like to do so we’ve just got to execute when we’re on the kill,” said Harbinson. “You can’t give them 10 power plays like they got (in Nanaimo on Saturday). It’s a recipe for disaster no matter who you play.”
The Vees have 21 healthy bodies available for the weekend, which means one player will be scratched. Veteran forward Taylor Ward, who has missed three games with an upper-body injury, is expected out “a few more weeks,” according to the head coach. Defenceman Greg Brydon also remains out indefinitely with a lower-body ailment.
Harbinson planned to rotate his goaltenders – at least until one grabbed the mantle. It appears rookie Adam Scheel has done just that, as he will start his second game in a row Friday.
“He was outstanding in the (2-1 win) against West Kelowna,” Harbinson said. “He deserves another opportunity. It’s early, but his numbers are staggering.”
The 18-year-old U.S.-born Scheel has a 3-0 record with 1.13 goals-against average and .959 save percentage.
“Scheel comes from a very strong program where he played against top U.S. university teams, and he’s committed to a great program at North Dakota,” said Harbinson. “He’s a proven, premier goaltender.”
Harbinson noted with the defence playing so well, Scheel didn’t have to be spectacular in the win over West Kelowna, saving his best for the last 10 minutes when the visitors pushed hard to get back in the game.
“We limited West Kelowna’s play in our end, made real good decisions on exit and our transition game was terrific as a result,” said Harbinson.
The Vees were buoyed by the return of high-scoring forward Grant Cruikshank from injury. Skating on the top line with fellow co-captain Owen Sillinger and assistant Chris Klack, Cruikshank scored what proved to be the winning goal on a third-period breakaway.
“Grant looked great, that line played really hard and could easily have scored two or three more goals,” said Harbinson.
ICE CHIPS: The Vees and Vipers split last year’s season series, with each team winning three times along with one tie. The visiting team each won twice, but in the playoff series the home team won all seven contests… Vernon F Brett Stapley is tied for fifth in BCHL scoring with six goals and 12 points. F Jimmy Lambert is tied for eighth with 11 points.
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