Chance to end the series

The Penticton Vees have a chance to shut down the Merritt Centennials at the South Okanagan Events Centre Thursday evening, with a 3-1 lead in the Interior division semi-finals.

After two games in Merritt – with the first going to the Centennials and the second going to the Vees – the teams will be heading to the Vees' home ice, where head coach Fred Harbinson says he wants to end the series.

"We'd rather not have to go back (to Merritt). I mean, who would?" Harbinson said in this week's Vees' View with Coach Harbinson. "You've got a chance to close them out here in our building. As cliche as it, we always know the fourth game is always the hardest to win."

That means the team will have to bring their top game to the SOEC on Thursday, following a hit and a miss earlier this week in Merritt.

"Game three we just weren't on task. I think some of the guys maybe didn't prepare like they should," Harbinson said. "Give Merritt credit – they were desperate, they played desperate. Different game in their building, obviously."

Harbinson says the third period in that game saw an improvement, which carried into game four, which saw a 2-1 overtime win for the Vees.