Weekend Preview: Vees open Interior Conference Final against Brooks
Photo:
Author: Tim Hogg
SERIES
Game 1: Friday, May 2nd, Brooks at Penticton, 7:00 pm PDT
Game 2: Saturday, May 3rd, Brooks at Penticton, 6:00 pm PDT
Game 3: Monday, May 5th, Penticton at Brooks, 7:00 pm MDT
Game 4: Tuesday, May 6th, Penticton at Brooks, 7:00 pm MDT
Game 5: Friday, May 9th, Brooks at Penticton, 7:00 pm PDT*
Game 6: Monday, May 12th, Penticton at Brooks, 7:00 pm MDT*
Game 7: Tuesday, May 13th, Brooks at Penticton, 7:00 pm PDT*
*If necessary
PENTICTON VEES
President, General Manager & Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
2024-25 Record: 8 GP 8-0-0-0
Home: 4-0-0-0
Away: 4-0-0-0
GF: 35
GA: 12
Power Play: (6/26) 23.2%, 6th BCHL
Penalty Kill: (14/14) 100%, 1st BCHL
Scoring Leader: Max Heise (3-10-13)
The Penticton Vees finally get back to action this coming Friday when the battle for the Ryan Hatfield Trophy kicks into gear at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The Vees dispatched the Cranbrook Bucks in the Interior Conference Semi-Final, completing their second consecutive sweep after showing the Okotoks Oilers the door in Round One.
After a seven-day break, the Vees get set for the matchup the whole junior hockey world has been waiting for, a best-of-seven series with the Brooks Bandits with a trophy on the line. For the Vees it marks the franchise’s ninth appearance in the Interior Conference Final since President, GM & Head Coach Fred Harbinson stepped behind the bench.
The Vees and the Bandits played four times throughout the Regular Season, each winning twice including on the road. The two teams had nearly identical regular seasons, finishing in the top 2 spots in the BCHL standings. They’ve combined for just a single loss, in overtime no less, in a combined 17 playoff games through two rounds.
For Penticton it’s been the same during the playoffs as it was during the regular season as they continue to get contributions from up and down the lineup. Max Heise continues to lead the team with 13 (3-10-13) while Simon Meier and Luke Posthumus are tied atop the team lead in goals with six. These three players all play on different lines, further proving the depth that Penticton features on a nightly basis makes them extremely difficult to play against.
It’s not only the depth that’s shone for Penticton, but special teams have been rock solid through eight games in the playoffs as well. The blue and white sit fourth in the BCHL (23.8%) in power play percentage and remain a perfect 16/16 on the penalty kill. Brooks will test both units immensely as they also sit in the top 5 in both categories.
The crease continues to be split for the Vees through eight playoff games between the pair of 2025 Wally Forslund Trophy winners in Will Ingemann and Ethan Buenaventura. The two were awarded the Wally Forslund Trophy this week by the BCHL as the tandem with the lowest combined goals against average throughout the BCHL Regular Season. It’s the fourth season in a row that Vees’ goaltenders have won the award. The two have gone start for start during the first eight games of the playoffs, and it is expected Ingemann will take his turn in the rotation when the puck drops on Game One on Friday night. The pair sit together at the top of the goals against average statistics for BCHL goaltenders in the playoffs, while Buenaventra (.933%) sits fourth and Ingemann (.915%) sits 11th in save percentage.
Brooks Bandits
General Manager & Head Coach: Ryan Papaioannou
2024-25 Record: 9 GP, 8-1
Home: 4-1
Away: 4-0
GF: 40
GA: 23
Power Play: (10/35) 28.6%, 4th BCHL
Penalty Kill: (35/41) 85.4%, 3rd BCHL
Scoring Leader: Parker Lalonde (7-6-13)
For much of the regular season the Brooks Bandits looked downright unbeatable. The high-flying offensive style combined with a structured defensive system helped the Bandits get out to a 10-0-0-0 start and earn wins in 17 of their first 18 contests in their inaugural BCHL season. They finished just one win behind Penticton during the regular season with 40 and entered the playoffs as the Interior Conference’s second seed. After losing the opener at home to West Kelowna, the Bandits have won eight straight over the Warriors and Sherwood Park Crusaders to earn their spot in the Interior Conference Final beginning Friday in Penticton.
Led up front by veteran players Nic Peluso, Parker Lalonde and former Vernon Vipers forward Luke Bibby, the Bandits have scored 40 goals in their nine games through two rounds. A potent offense that can score at any given time, the Bandits are quick in transition and responsible with the puck in all three zones, making them incredibly difficult to match up with on a nightly basis.
Not only are the Bandits dangerous at even strength, but special teams was a weapon for them all season as well. Both their powerplay and penalty kill finished in the top third of BCHL teams during the regular season, posting eye popping numbers particularly on the penalty kill. They had the top ranked penalty kill throughout the 54-game regular season, giving up only 27 goals on 211 penalty kill opportunities. They were the third most penalized team during the regular season, and rank first in times shorthanded during the playoffs thus far with 41 penalty kill opportunities in nine games. They’ve killed those off at a rate of 87.2%, allowing only six powerplay goals against.
Zach Zahara has done the bulk of the goaltending for Brooks in the second half of the BCHL season and deep into the playoffs. Zahara, signed after the departure of standout goaltender Johnny Hicks in December, is a veteran goaltender with WHL experience that provides stability at the team’s most important position. The former Medicine Hat Tigers and Wenatchee Wild goaltender has appeared in all nine playoff games for the Bandits, collecting 8 wins while maintaining a 2.49 goals against average and .905% save percentage. Barring injury he will man the crease when the puck drops Friday for Game One of the Interior Conference Final.