BCEHL WEEKEND UPDATE - FEBRUARY 18-22

Saanichton, B.C. –  This weekend in the BCEHL the playoff race heats up in the U18AAA league after the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds won their 11th-straight game last time out, they'll take on the North Island Silvertips. In the U17 AAA league it is getting very close at the top of the standings, and it looks like it won't loosen up anytime soon. In the U15 AAA league it is a lighter weekend as the season enters its final few weeks, but there are still some great games. Let's have a look at what else this weekend has ahead of us.

There are no games in the Female U18 AAA league this weekend as four of the league's teams (Fraser Valley Rush, Greater Vancouver Comets, Northern Capitals and Vancouver Island Seals) will be attending the Fraser Valley Classic U18 AAA Tournament. For full details and tournament scheduling, click here.

 

In the U18 AAA league the playoff race is heating up with only three weeks remaining in the regular season. The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds won all three of their games last weekend to move within one point of the Greater Vancouver Canadians for second place. The Thunderbirds will travel to the island this weekend to take on the North Island Silvertips who are coming off a 3-1 victory against the Vancouver NW Hawks, where Silvertips' forward Randy Mclaughlin was involved in all three goals (2g-1a). The Cariboo Cougars (32 points) and Valley West Giants (26 points) will face off this weekend with just six points separating the two teams. Cougars' goaltender Tysen Smith picked up his 11th win of the season last weekend, moving him into fourth in the league in that department. Elsewhere, the Vancouver NW Hawks will take on the Thompson Blazers, while the South Island Royals will battle the Okanagan Rockets.

 

Fraser Valley Thunderbirds @ North Island Silvertips - Friday, February 18 (8:00 p.m.) - Cowichan Community Centre

 

Fraser Valley Thunderbirds @ North Island Silvertips - Saturday, February 19 (10:30 a.m.) - Cowichan Community Center

Cariboo Cougars @ Valley West Giants - Saturday, February 19 (11:30 a.m.) - Langley Events Centre

Vancouver NW Hawks @ Thompson Blazers - Saturday, February 19 (2:30 p.m.) - McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre

South Island Royals @ Okanagan Rockets - Saturday, February 19 (6:00 p.m.) - Capital News Centre

 

Cariboo Cougars @ Valley West Giants - Sunday, February 20 (10:00 a.m.) - Langley Events Centre

South Island Royals @ Okanagan Rockets - Sunday, February 20 (10:00 a.m.) - Capital News Centre

Vancouver NW Hawks @ Thompson Blazers - Sunday, February 20 (1:00 p.m.) - Sandman Centre

 

Vancouver NE Chiefs @ Valley West Giants - Tuesday, February 22 (7:00 p.m.) - Langley Events Centre

 

The standings are gridlocked in the U17 AAA league as the top-four teams, Vancouver NE Chiefs (48 points), Greater Vancouver Canadians (45 points), Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (44 points), and Valley West Giants (43 points), are all separated by just five points, with none of them playing each other this weekend. Levi Green of the Chiefs (21g-32a) remains at the top of the scoring charts. He will lead his team into a matchup with the Cariboo Cougars. Giants' goaltender Garin Wickstrom stands alone with the most wins in the league, winning 14 contests in his 22 starts. The Giants will take on the Thompson Blazers. In the league's other matchups the South Island Royals will take on the Canadians, the Vancouver NW Hawks will battle the Okanagan Rockets, and the Thunderbirds will take on the North Island Silvertips.

 

South Island Royals @ Greater Vancouver Canadians - Saturday, February 19 (2:15 p.m.) - Richmond Olympic Oval

Cariboo Cougars @ Vancouver NE Chiefs - Saturday, February 19 (3:00 p.m.) - Scotia Barn

Vancouver NW Hawks @ Okanagan Rockets - Saturday, February 19 (3:00 p.m.) - Capital News Centre

Thompson Blazers @ Valley West Giants - Saturday, February 19 (7:15 p.m.) - Planet Ice Delta

Fraser Valley Thunderbirds @ North Island Silvertips - Saturday, February 19 (7:20 p.m.) - Fuller Lake Arena

 

South Island Royals @ Greater Vancouver Canadians - Sunday, February 20 (9:00 a.m.) - Richmond Olympic Oval

Fraser Valley Thunderbirds @ North Island Silvertips - Sunday, February 20 (9:00 a.m.) - Fuller Lake Arena

Cariboo Cougars @ Vancouver NE Chiefs - Sunday, February 20 (11:15 a.m.) - Scotia Barn

Thompson Blazers @ Valley West Giants - Sunday, February 20 (12:00 p.m.) - Surrey Sport & Leisure Centre Arena

Vancouver NW Hawks @ Okanagan Rockets - Sunday, February 20 (12:45 p.m.) - Capital News Centre

 

It's a light weekend in the U15 AAA league as only six of the league's teams are in action. The Valley West Giants will take on the Cariboo Cougars. The Giants have two of the league's top-three scorers as forwards Evan Alexander Cook (14g-41a) and Coltan John White (21g-33a) have both had an impressive scoring season. The Thompson Blazers (34 points) will be looking to secure their lead on the Okanagan Rockets (32 points) for third-place in the league when they take on the North Island Silvertips. In the league's final matchup, the Vancouver NE Chiefs will take on the South Island Royals.

 

North Island Silvertips @ Thompson Blazers - Saturday, February 19 (5:30 p.m.) - McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre

Valley West Giants @ Cariboo Cougars - Saturday, February 19 (7:00 p.m.) - Rolling Mix Concrete Arena

Vancouver NE Chiefs @ South Island Royals - Saturday, February 19 (8:10 p.m.) - Ian H. Stewart Complex

 

North Island Silvertips @ Thompson Blazers - Sunday, February 20 (8:30 a.m.) - McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre

Vancouver NE Chiefs @ South Island Royals - Sunday, February 20 (9:30 a.m.) - Save On Foods Memorial Centre

Valley West Giants @ Cariboo Cougars - Sunday, February 20 (11:45 a.m.) - Kin Centre

 

As always, if you can’t make it out the games you can stream all BCEHL games live at: www.playfullscreen.com. 

 

To stay up to date on everything going on in the BCEHL visit the website to view schedules, standings, stats, and scores: https://bchockey.net/Leagues/Default.aspx, follow @BCEHL on Twitter, @BCEHL_AAA on Instagram, and join the conversation by using #BCEHLAAAHOCKEY.