A rivalry will be soon renewed, as the Penticton Vees gear up to meet the Vernon Vipers in the second round of the BCHL Playoffs.
The Vees will host their Interior rivals for the first game of the best-of-seven series on Friday, April 19, at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
This marks the teams’ first playoff meeting since 2017.
Penticton advanced to the second round after completing a four-game sweep of the Prince George Spruce Kings on April 10.
Vernon, meanwhile, punched its ticket to the next round after defeating the Trail Smoke Eaters in five games.
The Vees won the Fred Page Cup in 2022 and 2023, and will look to become the first team in 13 years to win three straight league titles.
Vernon, coincidentally, was the last BCHL club to win three championships in a row (2011 to 2013).
The BCHL on April 17, released the schedule for the second-round series:
Game 1: Friday, April 19, Vernon at Penticton, 7 00 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, April 20, Vernon at Penticton, 7:00 pm
Game 3: Tuesday, April 23, Penticton at Vernon, 8:15 pm
Game 4: Wednesday, April 24, Penticton at Vernon, 8:15 pm
Game 5: Friday, April 26, Vernon at Penticton, 7:00 pm*
Game 6: Sunday, April 28, Penticton at Vernon, 4:00 pm*
Game 7: Tuesday, April 30, Vernon at Penticton, 7:00 pm*
* if necessary
Penticton had to wait one week before knowing its second-round opponent, after the West Kelowna Warriors and Cranbrook Bucks clashed in a seven-game, first-round series.
If Cranbrook won the series’ seventh game on Tuesday, April 16, the Kootenay-based would have instead been matched up with Penticton.
West Kelowna will battle the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the second round.
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