As the 2007-2008 BCHL hockey season continues to unfold so do some teams' chances of making any noise come March when the playoffs begin.

Some hockey observers will say it is way too soon to be making such a statement so early in the season. A good number of the BCHL teams are already a quarter of the way through their seasons, and more than a few have struggled to find that ever important team identity!

Team identity can either make or break you as a franchise, whether we are talking the NHL or BCHL or for that matter, any team sport. As a follower of the BCHL for well over twenty-five years, I have seen many a team crumble to pieces before they ever find the combination of players who will go to battle for one another come crunch time. Finding that special group has proven to be a real challenge for not only the Penticton Vees franchise in recent years, but many others as well. Just ask the Quesnel Millionaire and Merritt Centennial franchises to name just a few.

Here in the Peach City, we've not seen that combination of players since 1986, when the Penticton franchise then dubbed "The Knights" won the National Championship. And to be quite honest, it's been many years since this franchise has come reasonably close to the big prize in junior hockey again. In 1986 the Knights were indeed a special group of young men who would do anything for anyone of their teammates at any given time, no questions asked. The beauty of that championship team was that they were as close to one another off the ice as they were on the ice.

Could this year be the year for the Penticton Vees to take a serious run at the Royal Bank Cup? In a matter of time, fans will know the answer to this very question. To win it all, you must have a special season that involves every player on your roster contributing on a regular basis. From the top goal scorer down to the seventh defenseman, all must play and be happy playing specific roles as determined by the coaching staff and upper management.

As I see the current edition of the Vees today, they look primed for a great season that will indeed take them deep into the playoffs. Having said this, this team will have to make certain upgrades at different positions to be a serious contender at a National Championship. As other teams across the BCHL and across Canada make changes to their current rosters to make themselves better, so must many teams if they hope to challenge for the Royal Bank Cup.

In the end there will only be one champion crowned. Which team(s) will put in the effort and changes to put themselves ahead of everyone else? To find out, keep following the great hockey of the BCHL and find out for yourself.

See you at the arenas!