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| Penticton Vees have the Spruce Kings blessings as they go for 30 consecutive wins |
On Tuesday February 7th 2012, the Penticton Vees are poised to complete the formidable task of reeling off 30 consecutive wins and they have the backing of the Prince George Spruce Kings even though the team's General Manager has a connection to the original record set back in the 1989-1990 season. Mike Hawes was playing for the New Westminster Royals to start the season that saw a talent heavy squad run the table through the better part of season and collect two points from 29 straight opponents.
As Mike Hawes told me in this interview, it wasn't an easy task back then and it certainly can't be thought of being any easier this time around with the Penticton Vees equaling that record and now poised to go one better. There is expected to be a packed house at the Prospera Centre, home to the Chilliwack Chiefs and the site of this historic game. No matter the outcome, it will be historic either for the Penticton Vees who will set the new record or for the Chilliwack Chiefs who will be known as the giant slayers, doing something 29 teams before them couldn't do.
In 47 games, the Penticton Vees have only lost 3 times in regulation time and twice more in overtime. One of those overtime losses was at the hands of the Prince George Spruce Kings in the Coliseum, the other overtime loss was to the Merritt Centennials and that was the last time the Vees lost a game this season. The three regulation time losses were to the Vernon Vipers, Trail Smoke Eaters and the Chilliwack Chiefs; so you know the team formerly known as the Quesnel Millionares believe that they can find that magic formula again and do what has seemingly become the impossible.
The game takes on an interesting perspective for the Prince George Spruce Kings and especially for Mike Hawes. As mentioned, the Spruce Kings General Manager has a connection to the existing record but more importantly there is a little more at stake in the game for Hawes. The Chilliwack Chiefs are currently three points back of the Prince George Spruce Kings with a game in hand - the game being played tonight. A Chiefs loss and the Spruce Kings maintain their pace over their rivals and can head out on the road with a little breathing room.
A Vees win and of course the legend of the Interior Division Juggernaut will grow. So I had to ask Mike Hawes which way he was leaning in this big game and he gives us the answer after he talks a little bit about the 1989-1990 New Westminster Royals and his small role on that team.
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