vees:blog

What do the Boston Bruins and the Penticton Vees have in common?

Aside from stops in Andy Moog and Chuck Kobasew’s hockey careers, and having two of the best looking hockey jerseys on earth, both the Vees and the Bruins have Ben Sexton in common.

Sexton is an incoming member of the 09/10 Vees acquired from the Nepean Raiders for ‘future considerations’ in late May. Last weekend the Boston Bruins used their final and 7th round selection on the 5′11, 182 pound forward. Sexton will play his 18-year-old season with the Vees before moving on to Clarkson University (ECAC - NCAA) for 2010/2011 campaign where he’ll work at joining the impressive list of Golden Knights NHL Alumni.

Last season Sexton recorded 35 points in 38 games, amassing over half of his point on the man-advantage. Of note, Sexton grew up watching Vees Alumni Zac Dalpe and even received a phone call from the current Ohio State Buckeye to discus Zac’s time in the Okanagan.

Ben is the son of Randy Sexton the recently anointed GM (the interim tag was dropped) of the Florida Panthers, and former Ottawa Senators executive.

As James Mirtle (top hockey blogger in the milky way in my humble opinion) points out, the Sextons were just one of a bunch of hockey families that added new chapters to their hockey history last weekend.

Curtis McKenzie’s monstrous sophomore campaign in the BCHL has garnered one final honour - as the brute was drafted by Dallas in the 6th round of the NHL Entry Draft.

After just three goals in his sixteen-year-old season, C-Mac made huge strides this year as he earned a scholarship out of training camp, earned a silver medal at the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge with Team Canada West, played in the CJHL Prospects game in P.E.I., was named a BCHL All-Star, and earned an alternate captaincy in the Fall, after which he was named the Captain of the club when Denver Manderson went down to season ending injury at the end of January. The Golden, BC product also lead all 1991 born BCHL players in point production.

Here’s Vees Head Coach and GM Fred Harbinson on Curtis being drafted:

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Vees Head Coach and General Manager Fred Harbinson updates us on the 09/10 Vees. Our Conversation is below.

Here’s a look at the numerous changes made since we last spoke to Fred. Follow along as you listen!

Graduations: Colton Jobke - Kelowna, WHL (CHL) , Curtis McKenzie - Miami, CCHA (NCAA)

Traded: Brodie Reid - Nanaimo, Matt Ridley - Burnaby , Brad Reid - Burnaby

Acquired: Eric Filliou - Nanaimo

Notable Recruits: Beau Bennett - LA Jr. Kings (Midget), Luke Curadi - Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack, Atlanic Junior Hockey League, Ben Sexton - Nepean, CJAHL (CJHL), Jeff Johnson - Holderness Prep School, New England Prep Div 1

Listen Now:

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Holy smokes, it’s been ages since the last update on the Vees Blog.

It seems like it was just yesterday that Kyle Bigos dangled in from the left point and toe-dragged the entire Humboldt Broncos squad enroute to the Vipers 5th RBC Cup.

Since we last spoke the Vees Blog has been scuba diving with sharks (okay, there was only one) in Malaysia, enjoying pork dumplings in Shanghai, and climbing in Yangshuo “ni-hao“!

Okay, enough storytelling. With the NHL Entry Draft taking place this weekend it’s time to get back into hockey mode.

Lots of news and notes regarding the Vees and the BCHL including:

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The 2009 RBC Cup has been won by the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, marking a record setting 5th Canadian Junior ‘A’ Championship.

Undefeated through five previous games at the tournament, the Vipers defeated the defending champion Humboldt Broncos 2-0 in front of nearly 2000 fans at Bear Mountain Arena in Victoria.

Here’s a conversation with Nanaimo Clippers play-by-play voice Dan Marshall who covered the event in the broadcast booth and at ice level.

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Dan Marshall updates us on the opening three days of the National Championships from Victoria where the Kingston Voyageurs and the Summerside Western Capitals have struggled against their Western counter-parts.

You can catch the aformentioned voice of the Nanaimo Clippers calling the non-BCHL games here.

Here’s how the action has played out thus far. We could have an all BCHL final on tap.

The staff at the Times-Colonist (Victoria fish-wrap) are all over the RBC including fashion trends, love of the snakes, and of course the home team’s rebound.

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The defending champs have returned and the BCHL is well represented as Victoria hosts this year’s RBC Cup.

Here’s a brief look at each of the 5 clubs vying for the most prestigious trophy in Junior A Hockey.

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Scouts, aspiring BCHLers, coaches, alumni, and Vees brass are all on hand this weekend at the SOEC and Community Rink in Penticton for Spring Camp 2009.

160 players are vying for a ticket to main camp in August.

Here’s a taste of some of the sounds of spring camp.

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The Penticton Vees 4-day spring camp commences today in the Peach City.

8 teams of 20 players ranging in birth years of ‘90 (19-year-olds next season) to ‘95 (14-year-olds next season) will be in attendance trying to earn a ticket to Vees main training camp come August. Each team will play twice Friday and Saturday before a single game on Sunday to close out the tournament formatted event.

2009 Vees Devon Krogh, Curtis McKenzie, Ryan Johansen, Garrett Milan, Denver Manderson and Derik Johnson are all involved in the camp, working behind the bench during game play, giving tours of the dressing room, and assisting in fitness testing… among other duties.

Today camp participants check in, tour the facility (SOEC), and go through a fitness test. Ice times start at 8AM (Friday through Sunday) and last ice time runs from 4:45 to 5:50 (except Sunday when the last ice time - which is also the championship game of the 8-team tournament - starts at 12:30 and ends at 1:35).

The event brings in 160 quality players from all over North America, with a chance to measure themselves against other BCHL hopefuls. 20 of 160 have come from the USA to attend while the remaining 140 players are Canadians.

Stay tuned to the Vees Blog for more over the weekend…

4 Games, that’s all it took for the Vernon Vipers to dispatch of the AJHL Champion Grande Prairie Storm. In a series that started in the old Civic Centre in Vernon the Vipers played a physical, and defensively responsible series allowing just 6 goals in the four game sweep.

16-year-old Pentictonite Sahir Gill had a sensational Doyle Cup racking up 6 points playing with the infamous Jones Twins of Fruitvale, BC. The Vipers top line totaled 20 points in the 4-game series.

Former Vees tough-guy Eli Grossmann closed out his Junior career with a baffling set of decisions late in Game 2… have a look if you don’t know what I’m talking about. Eli apologized to the officials and I have spoken with him since the event. The 20-year-old is embarrassed and remorseful regarding the incident. Odds are this isn’t the last we hear about this black eye on Junior A Hockey.

With the Victory, the Vipers advance to the RBC Cup in Victoria, which will feature two BCHL entries. Host Victoria and the aforementioned Vipers are in to the 5 team national championship.

In the Prairies (ANAVET CUP) - Portage and Humbolt are in the midst of a best of seven for the ‘West’ entry to the tournament. Former Vees netminder Bryan Mountain has the Portage of the Prairie Terriers up 3 game to 1 with game 5 in Humboldt tonight.

In Ontario 4 teams are still vying for the Dudley Hewitt Cup and the right to represent the ‘Central’ region. Fort William has the top record in the round robin thus far.

Out East 4 teams (from Quebec, PEI, New Brunswick and Ontario) are battling for the Fred Page Cup (yes, the same name as the BCHL’s Championship Trophy). With Dieppe, ON and Summerside, PEI getting early round robin victories.

Meanwhile the Victoria Grizzlies haven’t played hockey since March 31, but will be hit the ice on May 2nd to kick off the RBC Cup Round Robin.