The Final Four in the British Columbia Hockey League Playoffs are set, and ready to begin this weekend.
The Langley Rivermen punched their ticket to the BCHL’s Costal Conference Final, following their 5-2 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in Game 6 on Saturday night. Langley is the sole surviving lower mainland team in the playoffs, following Chilliwack’s elimination at the hands of the Nanaimo Clippers last week, and the Rivermen will now travel to Vancouver Island to take on those same Clippers.
Forward Max Dukovac has led the way offensively for Langley, putting up six goals and seven assists for thirteen points in eleven games across the first two rounds, most notably scoring the triple-OT winner, sinking Alberni Valley in Game 4. Between the pipes, Ajeet Gundarah has been stellar, clocking a 2.33 Goals Against Average and a .929 Save Percentage across the first two rounds, including 35 saves in the sixth and deciding game against the Bulldogs. Driving the train for the top seeded Nanaimo Clippers is goaltender Cooper Black, who leads the BCHL playoffs in all goalie stats, with an astounding .947 save percentage, and a 1.71 Goals Against Average.
In the Interior Conference Finals, it will be the “Battle of Highway 97” as the West Kelowna Warriors attempt to shut down the top seeded Penticton Vees. West Kelowna took care of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in six games, while Penticton made quick work of the Prince George Spruce Kings. The Vees eliminated the Warriors in five games in the 2020 Playoffs before the COVID shutdown, and the Warriors are looking to exact some revenge. West Kelowna got the better of Penticton in the regular season, winning four of the seven matchups this year.
Games three, four, and six (if necessary) of the Costal Conference Finals will take place at Langley’s George Preston Arena. Dates yet to be announced.
(Photo Credit to Garrett James)