Story by Dave Crompton – Penticton Herald
The Penticton Valley First Vees achieved something they needed all 60 games to do last season – and the head coach didn’t even notice it.
By virtue of their 5-1 road victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters on Saturday, the Vees clinched a playoff spot in the BCHL’s Interior Division. It put the Vees 30 points ahead of the seventh-place Williams Lake Timberwolves, who only have 14 games left to play.
“We clinched a playoff spot? I didn’t even know, but that’s good,” offered Bruno Campese.
“We’re so focused on trying to finish first or second in the division, I don’t think anyone really noticed.”
All of which tells you something about the Vees expectations in 2005/06.
After barely squeezing into the post-season a year ago, the Vees have their eyes on the big prize this time around.
The coach put it best earlier in the season when he noted “just making the playoffs is no longer good enough. Just winning a round won’t be good enough.”
After a stuttering start to the post-Christmas part of their schedule, the Vees are playing like a team that could seriously challenge for a division and even a league title this season. They saw their five-game winning streak come to a halt with a thrilling 2-2 tie against visiting Merritt on Friday, then ran their unbeaten streak to seven games (6-0-1) with the victory over Trail.
“Once it got into overtime against Merritt, that was about as exciting as it can get,” said Campese.
“It had a playoff feel to it and in the end, I thought both teams deserved a point.”
The coach insisted the triumph in Trail wasn’t nearly as decisive as the 5-1 scoreline would indicate.
“It was 2-1 in third period, then Jordan (goaltender White) made a big save on a two-on-one break. Tanner (House) scored on a penalty shot to give us some breathing room then we get two goals in the last minute or so,” said the coach.
“It’s always difficult in Trail, but our penalty killing was superb and we just played a real solid road game.”
Unfortunately for the Vees, they actually lost ground in the battle for first place with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The ‘Backs swept three straight games on the weekend and are now five points ahead of the Vees, though Penticton has two games in hand.
“Salmon Arm had a great weekend, but we can’t control what other teams do,” Campese noted.
“We’ve got some games in hand, but they don’t mean much unless you win them.”
The Vees schedule does not get any easier as they host the Vernon Vipers on Friday, with Vernon having won both visits to Memorial Arena. Penticton then returns to Trail on Saturday. It’s their final matchups of the season against both Vernon and Trail.
After that, the Vees head out on their last big road trip of the season, a four-game excursion that includes facing the league’s premier team, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
“I’ve said it all along, I like our schedule, I like the fact we’re going to be challenged down the stretch,” the coach insisted.
“If we can keep playing well on the road, we finish with five out of the last six at home, including the big home-and-home with Salmon Arm.”
With their win on Saturday, the Vees are an impressive 17-5-0-2 on the road, while they’re a solid 14-7-1-2 at home.
I
CE CHIPS: Defenceman Peter Farrell missed the weekend games with the flu, but practised Monday and should be good to go for this weekend, Bruno Campese said . Forward Mark Walter, bothered by a hand injury, left the Merritt game early and did not play for the rest of the weekend. He’ll be re-assessed by a doctor on Wednesday, but Campese suspects the gritty winger will be ruled out for this weekend’s play, at least. Forward Mike Towns, meanwhile, has two games left on his seven-game suspension . Campese has been impressed with the play of defenceman Ryan Botchar, who has filled in admirably in Farrell’s absence. “Ryan’s gotten better every game. He makes good decisions and shows a lot of poise. I thought he played his best game for us on Saturday.”
