Anticipated Vees-Wild may never happen

The first round of the Interior Division playoffs were surprisingly one-sided with all four series ending in four-game sweeps, but it’s a good bet the opposite will prevail in Round 2.

A pair of eagerly anticipated (and not just because of the nine-day layoff from Round 1) series get going Friday with the Penticton Vees hosting the Trail Smoke Eaters, and the Vernon Vipers “welcoming” the Wenatchee Wild in a way only Vernon can.

The four series sweeps somewhat contradicted the consensus the Interior was — from top to bottom — as strong as it has been in a long, long time.

It is, however, fair to suggest the top four might be the best any division in the BCHL has seen in recent memory.

The “Fab Four” combined to go a whopping 85 games over .500 during the regular season. Penticton (86), Vernon (83) and Wenatchee (79) were the top three teams in the entire league, while Trail came seventh overall with 69.

The Vernon-Wenatchee series should be a fascinating battle of the league’s best offence (Wenatchee) against the league’s best defence (Vernon). The Wild scored 241 goals in 58 games and no one else was even close. Trail was second at 218 and the Vees and Victoria each scored 216.

Jasper Weatherby led the league in points with 74 and was tied for the most goals with 37 to help him win MVP honours, while Cooper Zech was named the league’s top defenceman after leading the league in assists with 58 and coming fourth overall with 69 points. It’s a team with a lot of firepower.

Vernon surrendered just 118 goals (with the Vees second best at 130). Ty Taylor (7) and former Wild starter Anthony Yamnitsky (3) combined for 10 shutouts, with Taylor the only qualified tender with a goals-against average less than two at 1.87.

Vernon can also score with 205 goals on the season and improved their offence by acquiring forward Derek Brown at the trade deadline. Brown had 11 goals in 16 league games and led the team with four goals and eight points in the sweep of Salmon Arm in Round 1.

I am still not sold on Wenatchee despite their gaudy offensive numbers; questions persist about their goaltending. And aside from sweeping Merritt in Round 1, they haven’t proven much in the playoffs in three seasons as a card-carrying member of the BCHL.

Vernon won four of six in the regular season, including a pivotal 4-3 home-ice triumph on the final weekend when second place was squarely on the line.

Though Vernon has been at times vulnerable at home, having that extra game at Kal Tire Place is potentially huge in this series.

I like their superior goaltending and depth up and down the lineup to prevail in what should be an intriguing matchup. Both teams have plenty to prove, but Vernon has the urgency to win right now with their lineup.

A lot of fans would love to see a Vees-Wenatchee division final, but I just don’t see it happening. Give me the Vipers in 7.

Now, can the Vees hold up their end of the bargain and get to a division final that will be terrific regardless of their opponent?

It’s going to be a battle, for sure.

Both teams have had more than their share of injuries and key absences this season, but the Vees superior depth and goaltending allowed them to overcome it as they won their seventh successive Interior pennant.

The Vees won four and tied one of the six meetings, but just about every game was a dogfight. Anyone who watched any of those games – and the teams met a lot in the last half of the season – knows that Trail can compete.

The Smokies are loaded up front led by the gifted and rangy Kale Howarth, a 2017 draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Trail faded badly when Howarth missed a month of the regular season.

Howarth’s line with Ross Armour and Levi Glasman is one of the very best in the BCHL, but there is plenty of depth up front and scoring from the back end from Jeremy Lucchini and Seth Barton. Adam Marcoux came over from Cowichan Valley before the deadline to give the Smokies a proven No. 1.

The Vees are, of course, the Vees. A contender year in, year out, with speed, skill and depth up and down the lineup. Goalie Adam Scheel led the league in wins and was second in goals-against average, the blueline spearheaded by uber-NHL-prospect Jonny Tychonick is as good as there is in the league, and the Vees get offence from all four lines, though their top-six forwards are particularly prolific.

I can see this being another ‘homer’ series where it will be very difficult to win on the road. It’s vital for the Vees to hold serve and pocket two wins at the SOEC this weekend, but this is going to be a real challenge for Penticton.

For as great as their penalty killing has been, they need to stay out of the penalty box against a lethal Trail power play.

Once again, I see this series going 7, with the Vees finding a way to get it done – as they did three times in last year’s playoffs.

As for the other divisions, Prince George gets it done over Surrey in 5, while Powell River upsets Victoria in 6.

David Crompton is a sports reporter with the Penticton Herald. Email david.crompton@pentictonherald.ca