Junior hockey: Vees win opening game of BCHL championship

A round-up of junior hockey results from the Okanagan and surrounding areas.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Friday’s results

• Winnipeg 6, Moose Jaw 3
• Winnipeg wins series 4-2
• Winnipeg will play Edmonton in Eastern Conference final
• Vancouver 5, Kamloops 2
• Kamloops leads series 3-2
• Portland 5, Seattle 1
• Portland leads series 3-1

Saturday’s game

• Seattle at Portland, 6 p.m.

Sunday’s game

• Kamloops at Vancouver, 4 p.m.

B.C. HOCKEY LEAGUE

PENTICTON 4, NANAIMO 1

The Penticton Vees won the opening game of the Fred Page Cup, and in convincing fashion, as they steamrolled the Nanaimo Clippers 4-1 on Friday night.

At the South Okanagan Events Centre, Casey McDonald, Ryan Hopkins, Luc Wilson and Bradley Nadeau scored for the Vees, who held period leads of 2-0 and 3-1 en route to outshooting the Clippers 40-20.

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Wilson finished the evening with three points, including two assists.

2:08 Some Edmonton Oilers fans superstitious ahead of Game 7 vs. Kings

Kai Daniells, just eight seconds into the second period, replied for Nanaimo in the best-of-seven BCHL championship series.

Kaeden Lane made 19 saves for the Vees, with Cooper Black turning aside 36 shots for the Clippers.

Penticton was 1-for-4 on the power play while Nanaimo was 0-for-2.

The series resumes with Game 2 in Penticton on Saturday night, at 7 p.m.

Games 3 and 4 are slated to take place in Nanaimo on Tuesday and Wednesday.

6:04 Calgary Flames alumni Colin Patterson weighs in on Game 6

Both teams proved to be the class of their respective conferences.

In the Interior Division, Penticton cruised through, losing just one playoff game in three rounds (12-1). Meanwhile, in the Coastal Division, Nanaimo went one better, going a perfect 12-0.

However, during the regular season, the Vees had the league’s best record (43-8-3), amassing 89 points. The Clippers (33-17-4) were well back with 70 points.

And in 14 postseason games so far this spring, Penticton’s No. 1-ranked offence has tallied a league-leading 62 playoff goals. Nanaimo is third with 49.

2:01 Halifax, Moncton preparing for World Juniors