The third round of the British Columbia Hockey League playoffs is now underway, with just three teams remaining in the quest for the 2015-16 Fred Page Cup.
The West Kelowna Warriors, Chilliwack Chiefs and Nanaimo Clippers have commenced their home-and-home series with one another. The first two teams to collect three wins will move on to the best-of-seven Fred Page final.
In the the opening game of the third round, played on Tuesday night of this week, the Warriors defeated the Chiefs 5-1.
Game two goes Thursday night when Nanaimo visits West Kelowna.
The Warriors were surprise qualifiers for third-round playoff action as they upset the heavily-favoured Penticton Vees four games to two in the Interior final.
Led by goaltender Matthew Greenfield, West Kelowna spotted Penticton a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series before roaring back to win the next four games in a row.
Meanwhile, in the BCHL’s Mainland division, the Chiefs made relatively short work of the first-year Wenatchee Wild, disposing of them in five games.
On the Island, former Merritt Centen-nials’ head coach Mike Vandekamp has his Nanaimo team playing smart, disciplined hockey.
The Clips, with former Centennials Gavin Gould in the lineup, took out the Powell River Kings in four straight games.
Following the completion of the round three series, the two Fred Page Cup finalists will battle it out to decide who will represent the BCHL at the Crescent Point Western Canada Cup, slated for April 29 to May 8 in Estevan, Sask.
