At this point in their BC Hockey League (BCHL) season, life is just peachy for the Penticton Vees.
The Okanagan team, named after the juicy fruit, came into Powell River after hearing they would be hosts of the 2017 Western Canada Cup (WCC) and promptly shut out Powell River Kings 3-0 on Friday, October 23.
Kings players joined the 917 other spectators to start the game as the Vees wheeled around them and in on goaltender Jeff Smith, who was positively brilliant in the first period.
Wearing flashy new uniforms that will be auctioned off before the end of the year, Powell River was outshot 14-5 in the opening period.
Smith made magnificent saves on Vees snipers Seamus Donohue, Dixon Bowen and a couple on last week’s BCHL Player of the Week, Scott Conway, to keep it scoreless.
“Smitty is probably the top goaltender in this league and good leader on our club,” praised coach Kent Lewis, “and things are working out nicely for him.”
Lewis said he has noted Smith’s work ethic and commitment to the team, as have scouts from other teams and leagues.
“He’s getting some good interest and he’s deserving of what he gets because he comes to work every day,” said Lewis, “and it’s nice having him in there.”
Kings’ special teams were also good in the first period, killing a couple of penalties, but the Vee’s power play opened the scoring at 2:50 of the second to finally beat Smith.
Their insurance goal came at 6:51 when forward Owen Sillinger wired a perfect shot from 20 feet to the top corner, and that was it until the empty netter at 19:09 of the final period.
Off to a blistering 16-1-0 start, a 14-game winning streak and a nearly fully committed roster, Penticton is starting to look like the team that won 42 in a row a few years ago.
“During the week we were prepared for this game, but right now they are the best team in the country,” said Lewis. “We need to know how to generate more offence to get secondary chances, such as rebounds and mucky muck battles for loose pucks in front of the opposing goal.”
Penticton, who left five regulars at home due to injury and just added a high-scoring Ohio State sophomore forward on Monday, looked as good on the ice as they do on paper. To beat them will require an extra effort for the full 60 minutes of a game, said Lewis.
“We squandered a very good opportunity late in the first on a two on one,” said Lewis, “and we got puck-watching, a little mesmerized, and didn’t play good team defence. Outside of that, we gave up a power play goal and made a few mistakes where they buried a second goal and an empty netter.”
His summation gave Lewis and the Kings something to focus on in practices to come, but right now the Vees are a frontrunner to repeat as league champions.
“We knew what to expect, we saw it coming and give them credit,” complimented Lewis. “They are a good hockey club.”
It’s an admission that’s hard to make for Lewis and others in the BCHL, but with the 5,000-seat South Okanagan Entertainment Centre, a strong contingent of committed players, including a couple of NHL Central Scouting prospects in defenceman Dante Fabbro and forward Tyson Jost, and a deep management and ownership team, they are an organization built to last.
Even with all of that available in a competing market, Lewis said he’s happy coaching in Powell River.
“I love where I coach,” said Lewis. “We’ve always gotten good kids and even with what you would call small market, it’s special here.”
Looking to get back on track, the Kings visit Cowichan on Wednesday, October 28, then Victoria on Thursday, October 29, and Cowichan again for the last time this year on Sunday afternoon, November 1.
