GAME PREVIEW: Vees Open Playoff Series Against Smoke Eaters With Game #1

PHOTO: Cherie Morgan/Cherie Morgan Photography

The Penticton Vees open their 2022 playoff run as they host the Trail Smoke Eaters in Game #1 of their best-of-seven Interior Conference Quarter Final beginning on Thursday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

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REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE vs. TRAIL

Friday, October 15^th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (4-3 Vees/OT) (BOXSCORE)
Saturday, December 11^th @ Trail Memorial Centre (6-3 Vees) (BOXSCORE)

Saturday, February 5^th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (8-2 Vees) (BOXSCORE)

Saturday, February 12^th @ Trail Memorial Centre (5-4 Vees/OT) (BOXSCORE)

Saturday, March 5^th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (8-2 Vees) (BOXSCORE)

FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE vs. TRAIL

Game #1: Thursday, March 31^st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)

Game #2: Friday, April 1^st @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)

Game #3: Monday, April 4^th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)

Game #4: Tuesday, April 5^th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)

*Game #5: Thursday, April 7^th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)

*Game #6: Saturday, April 9^th @ Cominco Arena (7:00 PM)

*Game #5: Monday, April 11^th @ South Okanagan Events Centre (7:00 PM)

*- If Necessary

The Vees come into the playoffs after another successful regular season in which the team won their 15^th Ron Boileau Trophy as BC Hockey League regular season champions with a record of 43-8-1-2, tops in the Interior Conference and good for the 10^th consecutive pennant for the Vees. Penticton finished the season with the 2^nd-best power play at 25.3% as well as top penalty kill at 84.6%.

The Vees and Smoke Eaters played in a five-game season series this year with Penticton winning each of the five games in the season-long series. The Vees outscored the Smoke Eaters by a 31-14 margin although two of the games did go into overtime, one in Penticton and one in Trail. Penticton also had their hand in a pair of big victories by 8-2 scores in both February and March.

Vees Leading Scorers:

Luc Wilson (29-46-75)

Josh Nadeau (40-32-72)

Bradly Nadeau (20-26-46)

Brett Moravec (22-19-41)

Casey McDonald (20-17-37)

Finishing the regular season with a 10-goal performance against the Merritt Centennials, the Vees solidified their standing at the top of the BCHL in regards of goals for, concluding the season with the most goals scored in the league at 256. The defensive side of the game was also strong for Penticton, who surrendered just 123 goals against this season which also stood as the best in the league.

Sunday marked a milestone game for Vees forward Josh Nadeau, who became the second player in the BCHL to score 40 goals this season and the first since Scott Conway and Tyson Jost in the 2015/16 season to do so in a Vees jersey. The University of Maine commit tallied his 40 goals along with 32 assists for 72 points on the campaign, ranking 2^nd on the team and 6^th in the league in scoring.

After collecting 15 points over the course of 7 games in the month of March, Vees forward Luc Wilson was named the 2^nd Star of the Month and the 21-year-old heads into the playoffs leading the team in scoring with 29 goals and 46 assists for 75 points on the campaign. The University of Minnesota State-Mankato commit is the only player on the Vees roster, excluded the injured Fin Williams, who has BCHL playoff experience, getting into 13 career playoff games and amassing 2 goals and 10 points during that time.

The Trail Smoke Eaters enter the postseason as the Interior Conference’s number eight seed but don’t let that fool you that this is a team much better than their record shows after battling through key injuries all season long. Trail finished the season with a 7-5 victory over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and concluded the regular season with a 20-29-2-2-1 record.

Smoke Eaters Leading Scorers:
Brady Hunter (21-35-56)

Zach Michaelis (28-24-52)

Teddy Lagerback (25-24-49)

Quinn Disher (14-27-41)

Coalson Wolford (12-20-32)

The Smoke Eaters have been a team that has suffered the most injuries this season to a lot of their key players, including goaltenders as Trail as had to roll with affiliate goaltenders for the bulk of the second half of the season. Cole Tisdale returned to the lineup last weekend and earned his 2^nd win of the season with a 39-save performance on 44 shots over the Silverbacks. The Lethbridge, Alberta native posted a 2-1-1 record with a shutout, collecting a 3.05 goals against average and a .902 save percentage in limited action with Trail this season. The 6’0”, 175-pound netminder has experience in the Western Hockey League with the Kelowna Rockets, Prince Albert Raiders and Tri-City Americans.

Although he hasn’t played since March 2^nd against Salmon Arm, Smoke Eaters forward Brady Hunter plays a key role in Trail’s offensive attack. The Enfield, Nova Scotia native posted 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points in 41 games played this season while he finished his regular season on a six-game point streak.  The Merrimack College commit earned 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points during that span while earning points in 11 of his last 12 games.

Leading the Smoke Eaters in goals this season, Zach Michaelis collected 28 goals this season and posted 52 points in 49 games played to finish 2^nd on the team in scoring. The Elk River, Minnesota native compiled multi-goal games in five of his contests this season, including his first career hat-trick on January 28^th against the Merritt Centennials. The University of Northern Michigan commit scored three goals and six points in five games against the Vees over the course of the season.

The Vees and Smoke Eaters play in Game #1 of their best-of-seven Interior Conference Quarter Final series on Thursday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Puck drop is slated for 7:0 PM at the SOEC with tickets available for purchase at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC as well as online at valleyfirsttix.com.

Make sure to come down early and join the fun in the Party on the Plaza ahead of tonight’s opening of the BCHL Playoffs. The event gets going at 5:00 PM and is free for all ages to come down with interactive games, lots of activities, samples and face painting.