The Penticton Valley First Vees will continue to get a steady diet of contending teams in the BCHL stretch drive, and that’s just how their head coach wants it.
Penticton hosts arch-rival Vernon Vipers in front of what is expected to be a sellout crowd tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Arena, then start a stretch of five straight road games against the struggling, but dangerous Trail Smoke Eaters, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Cominco Arena.
The Vees then face the league’s best team, the Alberni Bulldogs on Wednesday to start a four game in five nights road trip.
“It just forces everyone to be prepared, to be mentally focused,” said Bruno Campese.
“We’re preparing for the playoffs right now. You can’t wait for the playoffs to start preparing.”
The coach agreed every team is ready to play the Vees, who own an impress 31-12-1-4 record for 67 points. The Vees are five points behind the Salmon Arm Silverbacks atop the Interior Division standings, with Penticton holding two games in hand.
“Last year, we probably caught a few teams by surprise, especially towards the end of the season when we started getting healthy,” the coach observed.
“This year, teams know they’re going to have to play at a high level to beat us.”
The Vernon game is a pivotal one, as the Vees can all but secure second place in the division and a bye in the opening round of the playoffs. Vernon is nine points behind the Vees, but the Vipers do hold two games in hand.
“If we win tonight, it will make it difficult for Vernon to catch us for second,” the coach acknowledged.
“One of our goals is to the first-round bye, and we have a good opportunity to do that, so the feeling is `let’s get after it’,” Campese said.
The Vees were left with a sour taste in their mouths the last time Vernon visited Penticton on Jan. 3. Vernon charged back from a 3-0 first-period deficit, tied the game with a minute to go, then prevailed 4-3 in overtime.
“We shot ourselves in the foot with so many undisciplined penalties, but give Vernon credit for battling back,” Campese said.
“We played hard to get up 3-0, but I don’t know if we played particularly well. We need to be better in all facets of the game tonight.”
The Vees know they have to play a physical game against the swift-skating Vipers.
“If we play smart, finish our checks and create chances by being physical on their D-men, we’ve got a good chance of having some success,” said Campese.
The Vees will be looking for their second win in Trail in eight days. Penticton beat the stumbling Smokies 5-1 last Saturday.
“It’s our last divisional game before the four-game trip to the coast, so we’ve got to go in and follow up what we did last time,” said Campese.
“We approach things the same whether we’re at home or on the road, and that’s why we’ve had success away from home. We’ll expend a lot of energy against Vernon, we’ll have the long bus ride, so we’ll have to be mentally ready to compete.”
Forward Mike Towns will serve the last two games of a seven-game suspension this weekend, while another tough forward, Mark Walter, is highly unlikely to play due to a hand injury.
“If Walter can’t go, we’ll dress seven defencemen and one of them can play up front if the need arises,” said the coach.
Campese admitted the Vees have missed Towns, even though they are unbeaten in seven games.
“Mike is one of the most feared guys in the league . he’s a hard-nosed kid who plays within the roles,” said Campese.
“He’s worked extremely hard on and off the ice (since the suspension) and we’ll have him back for the road trip, which is great. I know he’s very anxious to get back playing.”
Campese wasn’t tipping his hand on who will get the start in goal Friday, especially after Jordan White played splendidly in the win over Trail. White has a superb 11-2 won-loss record, 2.26 goals-against average and two shutouts.
“Both goaltenders have been very good, and it’s great to have that kind of competition in goal,” said Campese, a former goaltender himself.
“I can probably see the games being split this weekend, but I may not decide until (today) on who’ll go in the Vernon game.”
c Friday, February 3, 2006Copyright PentictonHerald.ca
