Let the playoffs begin

It's playoff time in the BC Hockey League and the Vernon Vipers will be squaring off against their Interior Division rivals, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, in the first round.

Game one of the best-of-seven series starts this evening at Kal Tire Place.

Vipers assistant coach Kevin Kraus expects a good matchup between the two clubs.

“It should be pretty even with two teams that play a little bit physical and a bit more defensive hockey, but I think both teams might try and open it up here in the playoffs,” said Kraus.

The Vipers, who have won six national championships, including one under current coach Mark Ferner, struggled a bit during the regular season, but Kraus noted the Vipers were plagued by injuries and at one point were missing up to seven players.

“I think we're feeling really good right now. We had a good second half of the season once our players started to get a bit healthy,” he said. “We're going into playoffs fairly healthy and ready to go.”

Kraus expects tough games no matter who the Vipers face.

“The Interior Division is wide open from Penticton all the way down to Trail,” he said. “I think everyone can win a playoff series or at least make it tight, but at the end of the day it's the playoffs and anything can happen in a seven-game series.”

The first two games will be played in Vernon with games three and four in Salmon Arm.

Games five, six and seven if needed, will alternate between the two communities.