Nicholas Jones could barely sleep Tuesday night.
The Edmonton native had just captained the Penticton Vees to their fourth B.C. Hockey League championship since 2008 and 12th in franchise history. The Vees defeated the Chilliwack Chiefs in Game 7 of the Fred Page Cup 1-0 in overtime on Tuesday.
Jones said it is an unbelievable feeling and added the players did a lot of work to achieve this, battling through a 58-game schedule followed by 21 playoff games.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really rewarding, really satisfying to be champions,鈥� he said.
Since winning a league championship was new to Jones, he didn鈥檛 really know what to do after Duncan Campbell scored.
鈥淟et your instincts take over and just enjoy it. It was a great moment and it was awesome,鈥� said Jones, who started his junior A career with the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
Duncan Campbell netted the winner 9:21 into overtime.
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鈥淚鈥檓 feeling on top of the world, there鈥檚 no feeling quite like it,鈥� a jubilant Campbell told Black Press seconds after hoisting the trophy over his head. 鈥淚鈥檝e never scored a goal that comes even remotely close to this one. We鈥檝e been in a lot of big games, but this one takes the cake for sure.鈥�
Campbell won a Western Hockey League championship in 2016 with his hometown Brandon Wheat Kings.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 really get the words to describe this feeling,鈥� said Campbell, sporting a B.C. championship hat. 鈥淚t feels great. I鈥檓 just over the moon.鈥�
When the puck went in, the 20-year-old had a moment asking himself if that really happened. He then turned and looked at Jones and everyone else come off the bench.
鈥淚t was just pure bliss at the time,鈥� he said.
It鈥檚 the second championship in three years for defenceman Gabe Bast.
鈥淭his one could be a little bit more special just going through what I have in the past few years with the injuries, the three Game 7s,鈥� said Bast, who will join the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks next fall. 鈥淎ll the adversity that this team faced. We just kept finding ways to win.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting. That鈥檚 why you coach,鈥� said Vees coach-GM Fred Harbinson. 鈥淵ou love to see the expressions. Just the excitement that comes from it.鈥�
The players relished in the moment as the ride home from Chilliwack.
鈥淭he best bus trip this season. Especially after winning a championship, the extra passenger was special,鈥� said Bast, smiling.
