BCHL Report:

This is posted on the Junior hockey.ca website:

DAILY DISH: BCHL REPORT - Junior Hockey News

Published: Tuesday, 28 Nov 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 (15-6-2-2) – Head Coach Kent Lewis’ Kings took both games from the last-place Caps last week and will have to step it up a few notches in time tonight’s battle at Victoria. Langley and Surrey visit this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Kings continue to be just a bit better than their opponent most nights, but playing to the other teams’ level can burn you occasionally. None of these three games is a lock, so the Kings will need to stay sharp.

Nanaimo (14-9-3-1) – Head Coach Mike Vandekamp and the Clippers took care of business at home against Alberni Valley on Saturday after the draw at Victoria Friday. It’s all about the points this week with Cowichan Valley, Penticton, and Langley all visiting. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Clippers are gaining momentum and will need it with two very good teams coming in, following one that’s getting hungrier every night.

Victoria (12-8-3-0) – Craig Didmon’s Grizzlies are in a dogfight to stay in contention for the division title.  At this point in the season, every point is important. Look for Didmon to put a heavy emphasis on regulation wins going forward. Tonight’s visitors from Powell River should be ready for a fight. Let’s just hope the boys keep enough in the tank to battle at Prince George, Vernon, and Coquitlam on consecutive nights this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Grizz need to avoid the emotional letdown after gearing up for the Powell River divisional matchup because PG and Vernon both have something to play for and Coquitlam rolls in with a new coach and a new energy so watch out!

Alberni Valley (8-14-2-4) – Matt Hughes’ Bulldogs went winless in three games last week, something that the good coach wants to get turned around in a hurry. Can they stop Penticton’s run when the Vees visit Saturday? BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The ‘Dogs are scrappy but it will take more than that for them to stop the Vees. If they can keep the score low, they have an outside chance.

Cowichan Valley (2-21-3-2) – The Caps are not having a lot of fun right now and that’s completely understandable. Cowichan Valley CAN play with just about any team on the schedule, and that makes to win/loss record a bit of a mystery. The bus goes to Nanaimo tomorrow before Langley visits this weekend.  BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Capitals lack depth but what they don’t lack is heart. They’ll give you an honest battle every night, but this will be another long weekend.

INTERIOR

Vernon (19-6-0-4) – Head Coach Mark Ferner’s team rebounded from Wednesday’s disappointing loss at Wenatchee with a pair of big wins at Trail and West Kelowna. That same Wild team visits tomorrow. Trail and Victoria visit this weekend.   BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Vipers have gotten themselves a taste of first place and they like it. They have a chance to make a big statement with wins this week.

Trail (19-7-2-0) – Head Coach Cam Keith has found himself in a bit of a pickle. The hockey-mad community of Trail is now trying to figure out how the Smokies managed to lose three-straight games. That’s the price of success my friend… Trail goes to Vernon Friday with revenge on their mind before hosting Merritt Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: There’s no reason to panic in Trail. It’s a 58 game season and dry spells happen. The Vernon game will be epic, and Merritt can always make you pay if you aren’t prepared.

Penticton (17-5-1-2) – Head Coach Fred Harbinson’s Vees have now won seven straight games, including three big wins over Trail, Salmon Arm, and Chilliwack last week. West Kelowna visits tomorrow before the Vees head to Nanaimo and Alberni Valley this weekend. INSIDER SAYS: The SOEC is kind of a safe haven for the Vees but the Warriors have the wheels to keep up. The Vees toughest challenge this week is at Nanaimo.

Wenatchee (17-8-1-1) – Head Coach Bliss Littler’s Wild took two of their three home games surrounding the American Thanksgiving Holiday. Wenatchee heads to Vernon for tomorrow night before weekend visits to Salmon Arm and West Kelowna.  BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Wild have had a great month and are playing with confidence. Reasonable to guess they can take 2 of the 3 again this week.

West Kelowna (16-11-1-0) – Coach Rylan Ferster’s Warriors split the weekend home games beating Merritt 7-2 before going down against Vernon Saturday. West Kelowna visits Penticton tomorrow night before going to Merritt Friday. Wenatchee comes to Royal Lepage Place on Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS:  The three game week is less of a concern because Penticton and Wenatchee both do, as well. The Warriors offense needs to be more consistent for them to make a push.

Salmon Arm (12-13-3-0) – Head Coach Scott Atkinson’s Silverbacks took a few major strides forward over the weekend; picking up an overtime point at Penticton before sneaking one by the Wild in Wenatchee on Saturday. So after all that, what’s in store for this week? Wenatchee visits Friday before the boys run up to Prince George for Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Long week for Salmon Arm on tap as they play a Wenatchee team with a score to settle, and a Prince George team
that plays physical at home.

Merritt (10-13-2-1) – Head Coach Joe Martin’s Cents rebounded from Friday’s rough 7-2 loss at West Kelowna with a solid 3-2 overtime win at home over Trail. Those same games are flipped this weekend with the Cents hosing the Warriors Friday before visiting Trail on Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Merritt once again proved when they show up, they can beat anyone. Wouldn’t surprise me to see the script flip completely and have the Cents beat WK and lose to Trail.

MAINLAND

Langley (15-5-9-0) – Head Coach Bobby Henderson’s Rivermen are roughly halfway through the season and still find themselves atop the division. Do they have what a takes to be there at the end of the season? Considering that Langley has managed to earn points in 24 of their first 29 games, I have to think that holding on for a division title is well within their reach. The first step is to win the games they are supposed to win; and that mission was accomplished with the weekend home-and-home sweep of Surrey. A similar result should be expected with Wednesday’s visit to Coquitlam. The weekend treks to Powell River, Cowichan Valley, and Nanaimo will tell us the rest of the story.  BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Langley just keeps getting the job done, but the games at Powell River and Nanaimo will really tell the story. If the Riv win all three on the Island, then look out.

Prince George (14-10-2-3) – Head Coach Adam Maglio’s Spruce Kings are 3-1 in the first four of eight consecutive home games after sweeping Coquitlam over the weekend. Victoria and Salmon Arm visit this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Last year, it was all about making the playoffs. This year, it’s about winning the division. This group is motivated and always tough at home.

Surrey (14-12-2-1) – Brandon West’s Eagles took a few on the chin in the weekend series with first-place Langley and will have to dig deep to get points from this week’s visits to Chilliwack, Powell River, and Alberni Valley. BCHL INSIDER SAYS:  Chilliwack has been merely mortal this season, but still a solid foe. The Island trip could yield a couple of points, but likely that’s all.

Chilliwack (13-13-2-2) – Head Coach Jason Tatarnic’s Chiefs are back at the .500 mark after difficult losses at Wenatchee and Penticton. Look for a big week with Surrey visiting tomorrow before the home-and-home with Coquitlam over the weekend.  BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Chiefs will keep their nose above water this week as the schedule works in their favor.

Coquitlam (3-21-1-1) – The Express got bombed at Prince George, losing both games of the weekend. Langley visits tomorrow before Coquitlam faces a desperate Chilliwack team twice during the weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS:  The coaching change in Coquitlam may help in the long run but those first few games can be a coin toss. Will be interesting to see but I don’t think Coquitlam’s troubles are the kind that a coaching change can cure overnight.