The B.C. Hockey League playoffs are halfway through, with the second round coming to a conclusion earlier this week. In the second round, there was some outstanding hockey played.
As expected, the Penticton Vees continued their dominating ways and swept the Wenatchee Wild to bring their win streak to eight. Salmon Arm got itself over last year’s hurdle to make it to the Interior Conference Final for the first time since 2011 after defeating the Vernon Vipers in five games.
The Coastal Conference saw some interesting outcomes. The first was the Chilliwack Chiefs – as the number five seed – knocking out the Nanaimo Clippers in six games. The Surrey Eagles and Alberni Valley Bulldogs went all the way in the BCHL’s first seven-game series this post-season, with the Bulldogs coming out on top in a thriller.
Let’s have a look at the Conference final matchups.
Interior Conference final
Penticton Vees (1) vs. Salmon Arm Silverbacks (4)
This is the second straight year the Penticton Vees will compete in the Interior Conference final. Last season, they swept the Nanaimo Clippers. The Vees are on a heater, having won eight straight games. They haven’t given up more than four goals in a game and scored 45 goals in total over those eight games.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are running high after last season’s stumble in the second round. The Backs come into their first Interior Conference final since 2011. They have played some tight games so far, with three of their eight wins coming in overtime. Salmon Arm has unleashed a scoring onslaught as well, having claimed five of its eight wins in blowout fashion.
This series could be a really close affair or it could be lopsided in favour of the Vees. The Silverbacks know how to shut down teams but have not faced a high-powered offense like the Vees. It is up to netminder Matthew Tovell to steal a game or two for the Backs to keep them close. The Silverbacks’ defense will also have to shut down Bradly and Josh Nadeau, which is no easy task.
Prediction: Vees in seven
Coastal Conference final
Alberni Valley Bulldogs (3) vs. Chilliwack Chiefs (5)
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are in the Conference final for the first time in 10 years. The Bulldogs got over their stumble from last season when they were dispatched by the Langley Rivermen in the semi-finals as the number one seed. The Bulldogs have never made the Fred Page Cup final and are in tough against the Chilliwack Chiefs.
The Chilliwack Chiefs are in their first Coastal Conference final since 2017. Chilliwack’s franchise has advanced to the Fred Page Cup every year it has played in the Conference final with the exception of 2007 when the Chiefs were located in Langley.
The Chiefs got their revenge on the Nanaimo Clippers for last year’s sweep by knocking them out in six games this year. Chilliwack’s offense has come to life with secondary scoring from the likes of Brady Milburn, Tim Delay, and Nico Grabas. The Chiefs’ goaltending has been stellar with Austin McNicholas and Lukas Szyszka each leading the team to series wins.
The Bulldogs and Chiefs have only met once in the BCHL playoffs. It was back in 2011 when the Chiefs called Langley home and Chilliwack swept that series in four games. This year will be a very interesting series, given the incident late in the season when Chiefs forward Sasha Teleguine ran Bulldogs goaltender Hobie Hedquist in their last match-up on March 18.
The Chiefs are proof that home ice doesn’t mean anything as they’ve only lost one game on the road during the playoffs and haven’t had home-ice advantage in any of their first three series. This will be a hard-hitting, tough battle for two teams who play very physically. The x-factor could be the Bulldogs goaltending, with Hedquist getting injured in the last series against Surrey and Arnold Campbell taking over.
Prediction: Chiefs in six
