It was a potential BCHL playoff preview Saturday night, March 23, when the Salmon Arm Silverbacks visited the Penticton Vees at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Interior Conference showdown marked the Vees’ third last game of the 2023-2024 regular season, and ended with the Silverbacks winning 2-1 in a shootout. Max Heise scored Penticton’s lone goal in regulation.
Salmon Arm sits third in the conference, 13 points behind the first-place Vees (38-8-3-3).
“Overall, it was a great game by both teams,” said Matt Miller, Penticton’s director of hockey operations. “We responded great after they scored first, and that is what you need come playoff time.”
The Interior rivals won’t meet in the playoffs’ first round, which starts on April 5, but could see each other later down the road, just like they did in 2023. Penticton is set for a first-round showdown with Prince George, while Salmon Arm appears destined to meet Merritt.
Before the Silverbacks claimed their 33rd win of the season at the SOEC last Saturday, the Vees hosted Merritt on March 22, for ‘Feed the Valley Night’. Led by Calum Arnott’s multi-point effort, the home team cruised to a 5-2 victory.
Penticton will host the Trail Smoke Eaters on Good Friday and West Kelowna Warriors on March 31, to wrap up its regular-season schedule.
Entering the season’s final weekend, Arnott and rookie forward Billy Renfrew are tied for the team lead in points with 51. The latter’s 26 goals rank seventh among all BCHL skaters.
The Vees’ regular-season finale on Sunday, March 31, will feature a post-game awards ceremony.
When the puck drops on the BCHL Playoffs five days later, the Vees will look to become the first team in 13 years to win three straight league titles.
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