After a historic Round 2 of the Rogers BCHL Playoffs that saw all four series go to Game 7 for the first time in league history, we are now on to the Conference Finals. We break down both series before puckdrop tomorrow night.
Coastal Conference Finals
Prince George Spruce Kings (#1 Coastal East) vs. Nanaimo Clippers (#2 Coastal West)
Head-to-Head:
Prince George won the season series 4-0-0.
Previous Rounds:
Round 1 – Prince George defeated the Langley Rivermen in seven games. Nanaimo defeated the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in five games.
Round 2 – Prince George defeated the Chilliwack Chiefs in seven games. Nanaimo defeated the Cowichan Valley Capitals in seven games.
Top Playoff Performers:
Prince George – F Marcus Lougheed (11 points), F Mason Loewen (10 points), F Ryan Wachtel (10 points), G Colin Reay (.919 SV%)
Nanaimo – F Tanner Bruender (13 points), F Jack Rimmer (13 points), F Hayden Fechner (11 points), G Eliot Séguin-Lescarbeau (.903 SV%)
Fast Facts:
- Prince George has played the maximum 14 games through the first two rounds
- Spruce Kings goalie Colin Reay’s 2.31 goals-against average in the playoffs ranks fourth in the league
- Prince George has a 6-2 home record in the postseason
- Nanaimo’s power play is tied for the second best in the postseason, scoring at a rate of 27.3 per cent
- Clippers forward Charles Béland is tied for the most playoff goals with eight in 11 games
- Nanaimo has a 4-2 record on the road in the postseason
Interior Conference Finals
Brooks Bandits (#1 Interior East) vs. Cranbrook Bucks (#4 Interior West)
Head-to-Head:
Brooks won the season series 3-0-1
Previous Rounds:
Round 1 – Brooks defeated the Spruce Grove Saints in four games. Cranbrook defeated the West Kelowna Warriors in five games.
Round 2 – Brooks defeated the Sherwood Park Crusaders in seven games. Cranbrook defeated the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in seven games.
Top Playoff Performers:
Brooks – F Dmirtijs Dilevka (21 points), F Isaac Johnson (18 points), F Jack Rosensteel (13 points), G Zach Zahara (2.33 GAA)
Cranbrook – F Adam Csabi (10 points), F Konstantin Hutzinger (9 points), F Mitch Patrick (8 points), G Jason Tremblay (1.84 GAA)
Fast Facts:
- Bandits forward Dmitrijs Dilevka leads the BCHL in playoff points (21) and assists (14)
- Brooks has a plus-26 goal differential in the postseason, 17 goals higher than the next team
- The Bandits penalty kill is ranked second in the playoffs with an 89.1 per cent rate
- Bucks goaltender Jason Tremblay leads all goaltenders with a 1.84 goals-against average in the postseason, while his .944 save percentage is second
- Cranbrook’s Konstantin Hutzinger is tied for the playoff goals lead with eight
- The Bucks made the Conference Final despite being the lowest seed in the playoffs
