Vees take early edge in BCHL Final, T-Birds and Ice tied in WHL

Two close games opened the BC Hockey League Final for the Fred Page Cup.

The defending champion Penticton Vees edged the Alberni Valley Bulldogs by the same 4-3 score in games Friday and Saturday nights at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Josh Nadeau had a goal and 2 assists for the Vees in the second game as they outshot the Dogs 38-19.

Both games had crowds over 3,000 fans in Penticton.

The series now switches to the Alberni Valley Multiplex (The Dawg Pound) in Port Alberni for games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday.

BCHL Final facts:

• Penticton is the defending champion and are looking to be the first back-to-back winner since the Vernon Vipers won three straight from 2009 to 2011
• Alberni Valley has never won a Fred Page Cup and this is their first Finals appearance
• Penticton has won 13 Fred Page Cup titles (the most all-time), including three of the last six
• Penticton is making their 23rd Finals appearance

In the Western Hockey League Final, the Seattle Thunderbirds and Winnipeg Ice are tied at 1 after the first two games in the Manitoba capital.

The Ice won Friday 3-2 with the T-Birds taking Saturday’s game 4-2.

The next three games will be at the Accesso Showare Centre in Kent, Washington Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday,

Winnipeg Ice and Seattle Thunderbirds in WHL Final (Photo credit: Zachary Peters)