The Vitals
Game: Powell River Kings vs Penticton Vees
Arena: South Okanagan Events Centre
Puck Drop: 7:00pm
Broadcast: Starting at 6:45pm on 95.7 SunFM
The Numbers
Series: Game 1 (read full series preview here)
Kings This Season vs Vees (incl Playoffs): 0-1-0
Last Meeting: Vees won 7-2 (December 16th, 2011)
The Setup for the Kings
For the fourth time in as many years, the Powell River Kings will play for the Fred Page Cup. But for the first time in four years, it won’t be against the Vernon Vipers. Instead the Kings will face the Penticton Vees, a matchup between the top two teams from the BCHL’s regular season. It will be a battle of the 1st ranked offence and 2nd ranked defence, in the Penticton Vees, against the 3rd ranked offence (Coquitlam was 2nd) and 1st ranked defence in the Powell River Kings.
Despite many offensive stats leaning toward the Vees, the Kings bring their own firepower. We’ve mentioned several times this season, that depth scoring has been a big strength of this team past January 10th. The additions of Teal Burns, JP Villeneuve and Brendon MacDonald up front have given the Kings the luxury of three dangerous, talented and offensively threatening units to send out at any time. The fourth line of Tidy-Cochrane-Leung-Neil also contributed in the series’ against Surrey and Coquitlam. Add that to the best defence in the league, also dangerous offensively, and a first-class goaltending tandem and you have the makings of an extremely tough team.
Playoff Experience is also another stat we’ve been mentioning. Steven Schmidt leads the team in playoff games (43), with Teagan Waugh a close 2nd with 34 games. Factor in all the returning players, all with 25+ games from their two playoff runs and this team knows how to handle the playoffs. They know how to handle loud rinks. And they know how to get the job done. A lot of that experience comes on the blue line, with the three big bluelines in Dalrymple, Jutzi and Williams having key roles tonight.
In terms of lineup for the Kings, why change a winning formula. It will be a very similar, if not the same, look as we’ve seen throughout these playoffs. Sean Maguire will go in net and look to continue his red-hot form, and will have a confident and experienced team in front of him. One big area where Sean Maguire has the edge, is in the big game. Mike Garteig did not have his best playoffs last year, and Chad Katunar is experiencing his first BCHL final, after being thrusted into a starters role. Maguire is a gold medalist, played in front of a big crowd at the LEC during the 2011 World Junior A Challenge and was spectacular down the stretch when the Kings were driving for 1st place. He’s a big game goaltender that makes big game saves.
The Setup for the Vees
If you follow Junior hockey at all, you can’t not know about Penticton’s season. 42 straight wins, records set for most wins, most points, etc, etc, etc. And after a shakey start, the Vees have jumped to an extra gear and got over Merritt in 5 games. They’ve had the same amount of games, the same amount of rest and are ready for tonight’s game 1.
The Vees depth up front is where they threaten the most. You can’t help but look at stats from the Vees this year and see the big numbers. Forward Mario Lucia has been especially good in this post-season, and has scored in 7 of his last 8 games (6+13). He is a big body, in the same style as a Cohen Adair, a power forward with a great scoring touch. He will be a big focus for the Vees offence tonight, but he won’t be alone. Former Victoria Grizzlies forward Wade Murphy has seen the Kings a couple of times this year, but not since the trade deadline. Murphy is a quick, small-forward who has playoff experience against the Kings from last year’s series against the Grizzlies.
For the Vees, there are still all sorts of question marks surround Mike Garteig. He did skake this morning, however it was Chad Katunar and Cole Buckley who took the most of the work. The last answer I got from Fraser Rodgers (voice of the Vees) was “I don’t know”. So safe money will be on Katunar tonight who has some good stats, but many of the reports I’ve had is that he is beatable. Fraser Rodgers mentioned that when the game is on the line, Katunar has the ability to shut the door and give off a presence as if nothing will get by him. The Vees will need perception to be reality throughout this series.
On the Broadcast
Big night on the show, as we’ll talk with voice of the Vees Fraser Rodgers on their season and their playoffs. Also where he feels this series may be decided. In the 2nd intermission, we’ll talk with Kings Chris Williams, Cohen Adair and Sean Maguire, as well as Vees Logan Johnston and Travis St. Denis. Geoff Grimwood will join us in the post-game show after 60+ minutes.
