Good things come in Vees.
For the second time in five years the Penticton Vees are champions of the BCHL, winning the Fred Page Cup by edging the Powel River Kings 3-2 Wednesday night in the Hap Parker Arena in the coastal city.
Led by the scoring of former Trail Smoke Eater and Trail native Travis St. Denis who had four goals and 13 points in 15 games — fifth in playoff scoring — the Vees swept the final series in four games.
For the fourth year in a row the Powell Kings were unable to win the BCHL title, but they kept it close despite being beaten in four straight games. Each of the last three games of the final series were one-goal games, including Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime victory for Penticton.
The win marks the Interior’s dominance of the BCHL, with the Fred Page Cup having been won by an Interior team for the fifth-straight year. That span includes Penticton’s last win in 2008 and three in a row by the Vernon Vipers.
The Vees await the winner of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Enerflex Cup. Currently, the Brooks Bandits and Fort McMurray Oil Barons are tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven series.
The winner of the AJHL will host the opener of the Doyle Cup which is slated for April 20.
