The Conference Finals start tomorrow night as the final four teams look to punch their tickets to the Fred Page Cup Finals. We break down both series in our Conference Finals preview.
Coastal Conference Final
#3 Alberni Valley Bulldogs vs. #5 Chilliwack Chiefs
Head-to-Head:
The two teams split the season series 2-2 with one Chiefs win coming in overtime.
Top Playoff Performers:
Alberni Valley – F Dakota MacIntosh (15 points), F Brandon Buhr (15 points), F Nicholas Beneteau (11 points), G Campbell Arnold (.935 SV%)
Chilliwack – F AJ Lacroix (15 points), F Dylan Kinch (10 points), D Brian Morse (9 points), G Lucas Szyszka (.925 SV%)
Breakdown:
Three of the four games between the teams during the regular season were decided by one goal, including an overtime game, so this matchup is as close as it gets on paper.
The Bulldogs lost starting goaltender Hobie Hedquist to injury midway through their second-round series against the Surrey Eagles, but backup Campbell Arnold filled in admirably, getting the win in three of his four appearances to close out the series, including a 22-save performance in a Game 7 win to advance. On offence, Dakota MacIntosh and Brandon Buhr have led the way, averaging well over a point per game with 15 in 11 contests. Coming off a grueling seven-game series, you may think the Bulldogs will be at a disadvantage, but the Chiefs also just played a six-game set so it shouldn’t be much of a factor.
Chilliwack got out to a 3-0 series lead in Round 2 against the Nanaimo Clippers before eventually sealing the series in six, knocking off the top seed in the conference. After goaltender Austin McNicholas played the entirety of the team’s first round series against the Coquitlam Express, the Chiefs turned to Lucas Szyszka in Round 2 and the decision paid off. The 19-year-old posted a .925 save percentage and a 2.09 goals-against average in the series against the Clippers. Chilliwack has seen several forwards step up in the postseason, like team playoff scoring leader AJ Lacroix, but they have also received a big boost from the back end. Abram Wiebe, the BCHL’s Campbell Blair Trophy winner, continues to put up numbers, but blueliner Brian Morse has also stepped up in a big way and is tied for the playoff lead in points by defencemen with nine.
Interior Conference Final
#1 Penticton Vees vs. #4 Salmon Arm Silverbacks
Head-to-Head:
Penticton won the season series 5-0.
Top Playoff Performers:
Penticton – F Bradly Nadeau (19 points), F Josh Nadeau (18 points), D Joshua Niedermayer (8 points), G Luca Di Pasquo (.939 SV%)
Salmon Arm – F Nathan Mackie (11 points), F Ethan Ullrick (11 points), D CJ Foley (7 points), G Matthew Tovell (.928 SV%)
Breakdown:
Penticton has yet to lose in the postseason, going 8-0 so far. In fact, the team has not lost a playoff game since the first game of the 2022 postseason. The Nadeau brothers continue to be the story on offence for the Vees. Bradly leads the league in playoff points with 19 in just eight games, while his older brother Josh is only a point back. Potentially an even bigger story has been the strong play of goaltender Luca Di Pasquo. The Michigan State commit was solid for Penticton all season long, as shown by his First-Team All-Star selection, but he has taken things to another level in the playoffs and currently leads the league in save percentage (.939) and goals-against average (1.50).
Salmon Arm has only lost one game in the playoffs, going 8-1 through the first two rounds. They are coming off a five-game series win over the Vernon Vipers, but three of those victories came in overtime, so it was a bit closer of a matchup than it may look on paper. As was the case during the regular season, the Silverbacks have relied on a balanced offensive attack with seven different players contributing at least seven points during their playoff run. On top of that list is captain Nathan Mackie who leads the team with six goals and is tied for the team lead with 11 postseason points. In addition, goaltender Matthew Tovell has been a rock for Salmon Arm in the playoffs. His .928 save percentage and 2.06 goals-against average both rank third among BCHL goalies in the postseason.
