Connor (Shooter) Chartier is on fire for the Penticton Vees.
The Calgary native scored his team-leading ninth goal of the playoffs in a 5-2 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs Tuesday that helped the Vees clinch their spot in the Fred Page Cup, the BCHL championship.
Chartier scored on a play started by Dante Fabbro feeding Dakota Conroy. Carrying the puck into the offensive zone, Conroy found Chartier on his far right and Chartier evened the game at one as he caught Chiefs goalie David Jacobson sliding the wrong way and the puck tucked inside the far post.
“I think the play has been open so many times. It’s just a good middle lane drive,” said Conroy, third in team scoring with 13 points in 15 games. “Shooter gets open and I just got to find the lane and lay it into him. He has been a scoring machine from there. All I can do is give him the puck. It seems to be working.”
Conroy said Chartier’s nickname started as Shootsy and eventually became Shooter.
“It’s kind of funny. He doesn’t necessarily have the hardest shot. It seems to be picking corners right now,” said Conroy of his roommate. “Hot stick right there. Tell him not to change that.”
Before joining the Vees, Conroy and Chartier never played together as Chartier spent his entire WHL career with the Spokane Chiefs, while the former played with Brandon, Victoria and Prince Albert. When asked about Chartier’s success, Conroy said he is just finding open ice.
“We have good chemistry right now with Coop (Steen Cooper). Coop is moving his feet well out there, leaving lots of room open for him,” he said. “Whenever you can find some space, and just get a shot off, you kind of hope for the best. In his case right now, he’s picking corners. I just gotta keep feeding him the puck. Keep it going.”
Conroy said that it’s exciting, especially because they live together and spend nearly every minute together.
“We definitely get along and it’s nice to see him score,” said Conroy.
Cooper, who joined the duo after Lewis Zerter-Gossage was sidelined indefinitely with an upper body injury on the first shift of Game 7 against the Vernon Vipers, said it has been a privilege to play with them.
“Conroy obviously is a highly-skilled forward. Shooter, as we call him, is the exact same way,” said Cooper. “We are playing well together.”
When Chartier joined the Vees, co-captain Cody DePourcq said he would be a big addition and he impressed Vees coach-general manager Fred Harbinson after his first game. Following Tuesday’s win, Cooper said they knew he would be a big addition.
“I don’t know if we expected him to be this big of an addition,” said Cooper, who will join the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks next fall. “We knew he was a real hard working forward coming from the Western League. It’s good to see maybe a guy that was not as much of a goal scorer, so to speak, that starts getting lots of pucks in the net. It couldn’t be happening to a better guy.”
When asked about his production during the Vernon series, Chartier said he may be benefitting from being put in a different situation.
“Playing with some good line mates,” said Chartier, who had one goal and five points in 25 WHL playoff games with the Chiefs. “Just a little bit more confidence. Shooting the puck, trusting myself. It seems to be working out.”
After Chartier’s goal evened the game, Jarod Hilderman put the Vees up 2-1 when his shot deflected of Eric Roberts stick as the Chiefs captain battled in front of the net with Riley Alferd.
In the third period, the Vees distanced themselves on goals by Tyson Jost, the winner, and Cam Amantea. Jost won a battle for the puck behind the net then skated into the slot, spun and fired a shot past Jacobson. The fourth goal was the result of great patience by DePourcq, named first star with a two-assist performance, as he held onto the puck behind the net then moved to the side before finding Amantea at the top of the crease where he banged home a shot high past Jacobson’s blocker. The Chiefs made it 4-2 on a goal by Mason Boh, then Cooper potted the fifth Vees goal into an empty net on the power play.
Ticket prices will not increase for the Fred Page Cup. Adult tickets will remain at $17 per person and seniors will be $15; students (18 & under) and children are free. Tickets went on sale April 1 at the SOEC box office, which is closed on Good Friday. Season ticket holders have their seats held for each game until noon of each game day.