Penticton Vees are movin’ on up in CJHL rankings

The high-flying Penticton Vees continue their ascent in the Canadian Junior Hockey League weekly rankings released Monday.

The Vees, with 11 wins and a tie in 13 games thus far in 2018, edged up one spot to No. 14.

Penticton is the only BCHL team holding down a top-20 spot, though Interior Division rivals Wenatchee Wild earned an honourable mention.

The top three teams remained unchanged this week, with Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL), Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) and Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) still occupying those rankings.

Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) jumped five spots to No. 4 and the Thief River Falls Norskies (SJHL) are down one spot to No. 5.

Penticton (33-10-2-3) won road games in Merritt 3-2 and Salmon Arm 5-1 on the weekend to take over sole possession of first place in the Interior Division and the BCHL overall standings.

The Vees are one point ahead of secondplace Wenatchee and two points ahead of Vernon Vipers, who have fallen to third after not playing on the weekend.

While the Vees have 10 games left, Wenatchee and Vernon each have only eight. Trail, which has nine games left, is six points behind the Vees.

The Vees play the last of six straight road games on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Smoke Eaters in Trail. Penticton is 4-1-0 thus far on the run of away games.

Vernon is also back in action Wednesday as they host Chilliwack, while Wenatchee is idle.

The Vees finally return home for crucial games Friday against Trail at 7 p.m. and Saturday against Vernon at 6 p.m. at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The Vees will not have No. 1 goaltender Adam Scheel available for the visit to Trail, though GM/head coach Fred Harbinson is hopeful of having the BCHL’s leader in wins back between the pipes on the weekend. Scheel left Saturday’s game in Salmon Arm with less than two minutes to go after getting bowled over in his crease.

Defenceman Nicky Leivermann and forward Dakota Boutin — both out with upper-body injuries — remain “day-to-day”, according to Harbinson.

In the lone BCHL game tonight, the Surrey Eagles visit the West Kelowna Warriors.