The BCHL has released its 2012-13 schedule for its 51st season.
Puck drop will happen in Chilliwack to debut the BCHL Showcase from Sept. 7 to 9. The regular season schedule will commence on Sept. 14 with teams playing 27 games at home and away. Teams will play in every rink at least once. Mainland and Island Division teams will play each other 32 times, while those in the Interior Division will play 34 times.
The 2012 RBC Cup champion Penticton Vees released their schedule. The Vees will face Merritt, Salmon Arm, Trail and West Kelowna seven times and take on the Vernon Vipers six times, outside of the showcase weekend. Including the two games at the showcase, the Vees play their first six games on the road. Highlighting the road swing is a pair of visits to West Kelowna to face the Warriors. The Vees sole trip up north is on Sept. 15 to face the Prince George Spruce Kings, who are now in the Mainland division.
The championship banners go up Sept. 29 during the Vees home opener at the SOEC, when they face the Powell River King, a rematch of the 2012 Fred Page Cup Final. The Vees play the Vipers for the first time on Oct. 5 on home ice.
The Vees host the Clippers on Dec. 15. Following the game, they pause for a 13-day Christmas break. They return to action Dec. 28 against the Warriors. Penticton will enjoy their longest home-stand in January and February, which will see them play seven straight games starting on Jan. 25. The Vees will host non-conference opponents Alberni Valley and Coquitlam during the stretch.
The Vees wrap up their regular season March 8 and 10 with a pair of road games in Vernon and Trail respectively. Find full story at www.pentictonwesternnews.com.
The Vees home schedule features plenty of weekend dates. Of their 27 home games, 13 are on Friday’s, 10 on Saturday’s and two on Sunday with another two Wednesday games. All Friday and Wednesday games 7 p.m. starts, whereas all Saturday and Sunday games will be 5 p.m. face-offs.
Ice chips: The Vees acquired the playing rights of 1992-born forward Mike Sones from the Swan Valley Stampeders of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for future considerations. Sones has played at the junior A level for the Kings, Pembroke Lumber Kings, Grande Prairie Storm and Nanaimo Clippers. In 123 games, Sones has 14 goals and 36 points.
Tickets for Vees games can be purchased at their office at the SOEC.