We are down to the final four in the Rogers BCHL Playoffs, which means it is time for the Conference Finals to determine who faces off in the championship series. We preview both series below.
Interior Conference Final
#1 Penticton Vees vs. #2 Brooks Bandits
Head-to-Head:
The teams split the season series 2-2.
Top Playoff Performers:
Penticton – F Max Heise (13 points), F Caton Ryan (8 points), F Ben Merrill (8 points), G Ethan Buenaventura (.933 SV%), G Will Ingemann (.915 SV%)
Brooks – F Parker Lalonde (13 points), F Luke Bibby (13 points), F Nick Peluso (13 points), D Ethan Beyer (9 points), G Zach Zahara (2.49 GAA)
Breakdown:
In this highly anticipated matchup between the top two teams in the regular season, each team has had a relatively smooth trip to the Conference Finals. Penticton has won all eight of their postseason games, sweeping the Okotoks Oilers and Cranbrook Bucks, while Brooks has won eight straight after dropping their playoff opener, topping the West Kelowna Warriors in five games and the Sherwood Park Crusaders in four.
Penticton’s biggest strength in the postseason has been their dynamic duo in net with Will Ingemann and Ethan Buenaventura splitting games evenly so far. The two netminders are first and second in the playoffs when it comes to goals-against average, Buenaventura at 1.25 and Ingemann at 1.75. The Vees lead the BCHL playoffs in total goals against, even lower than teams that did not make it past the first round. They have also yet to surrender a power-play goal in the postseason. Penticton continues to spread their offence around fairly evenly, but second-year forward Max Heise has stepped into a key role through two rounds, leading the team with 13 points in eight game, just two off the league lead.
For Brooks, they have relied heavily on their top line of Parker Lalonde, Nick Peluso and Luke Bibby to provide offence in the playoffs. The trio are all tied with 13 postseason points through nine games. Lalonde and Peluso have been with the Bandits since the start of last season, but Bibby was a midseason acquisition this year from the Vernon Vipers and has taken off offensively since arriving in Brooks. Second-Team All-Star Ethan Beyer continues to contribute from the blueline and is tied for the points lead among defencemen with nine. Special teams could also be a factor with the Bandits having the top power-play unit in the Interior so far this postseason, matching up against a penalty kill that has yet to give up a goal. In net, Zach Zahara has started every game so far in the playoffs and has performed admirably. He owns an 8-1 record with a 2.71 goals-against average and one shutout.
Coastal Conference Final
#1 Chilliwack Chiefs vs. #4 Victoria Grizzlies
Head-to-Head:
Chilliwack won the season series 3-1, with one win coming in overtime.
Top Playoff Performers:
Chilliwack – F Brady Milburn (13 points), F Carter Anderson (12 points), F Caleb Elfering (10 points), F Nico Grabas (9 points), G Quentin Miller (.937 SV%)
Victoria – F Reegan Hiscock (15 points), F Thomas Molson (14 points), F Chase Pirtle (13 points), F Will Schumacher (12 points), G Oliver Auyeung-Ashton (.912 SV%)
Breakdown:
After being pushed to seven games in the first round against the Prince George Spruce Kings, Chilliwack made quicker work of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in Round 2, defeating them in five. It looked like the Chiefs could be in for another long series after splitting the first two games, but they took over after that, winning three straight and scoring a combined 19 goals over that stretch. The offensive outburst was a welcome sign for Chilliwack, who was the highest scoring team in the regular season, but were shut down for parts of the first round against Prince George. The offence has come from four-year veteran Brady Milburn, as well as midseason acquisition Carter Anderson, while second-year forward Caleb Elfering has provided multiple clutch performances in the postseason so far, scoring twice in Game 7 of the first round and piling up five goals and two assists over the final three games of Round 2. In net, Quentin Miller continues to be a calming force for Chilliwack and currently owns a .937 save percentage, tops among remaining goaltenders.
The Grizzlies won both of their series in six games, first against the Coquitlam Express and most recently over the Cowichan Valley Capitals in the second round. That matchup against Cowichan was a high-scoring series that saw Victoria score 26 goals over the six games. The Grizzlies went up 3-0 in the series, then after a pair of losses, closed it out in dramatic fashion when Chase Pirtle batted home the winner in Game 6 with just eight seconds to play in regulation. Victoria boasts the top two scorers in the playoffs so far in Reegan Hiscock and Thomas Molson and, as a team, have scored the most goals in the postseason. Molson was a thorn in the side of Cowichan all series long, piling up six goals and four assists in the series. After rotating goalies evenly in the first round, the Grizzlies turned to Oliver Auyeung-Ashton to carry the load in Round 2 and the former BCHL Rookie of the Year helped deliver the series win.
