vees:blog

With just a day to go some of the rumoured deals are trickling through the league’s transaction page.

Salmon Arm has acquired former Vees Captain and gritty Forward Brent Vandenberg, for future considerations.

Westside has acquired 17-year-old (and younger brother of Vees Forward Brad Reid) Forward Cam Reid from Victoria for Brett Howe and Future Considerations. The Grizzlies then turn and move Howe from Victoria to Quesnel for Future Considerations.

I had heard rumours of both these deals yesterday, but wanted to see confirmation before posting them as done deals.

Salmon Arm adds grit and character, while Westside adds a player who may end up as their top forward, and a player they can keep for next season.

I like both deals for the Interior Clubs.

Tonight’s final meeting of the season between the Smokies and the Vees will go down at the SOEC in Penticton. The Vees are 3 points up on the Smoke Eaters in the race for home ice in the opening round (3rd Place). Westside is a single point behind the Vees and holds a game in hand. The Warriors are playing Salmon Arm tonight, meaning third place is totally up for grabs.

The Vees come into the match-up without a regulation loss in their last 6 games (5-0-0-1), While the Smokies have just 3 wins in their last 10 games (Quesnel x2 and Merritt), struggling with the top 4 in the Conference (losses to Penticton, Salmon Arm x3, Vernon x2, and Westside).

The home team has won each of the games this season, with Trail winning all 4 in Cominco Arena in OT while the Vees have won all 3 at the SOEC in regulation.

D - Kaare Odegard will likely make his Vees debut after being acquired earlier this week from Canmore. Trail has been silent on the trade front.

Here are the top players through the first 7 games of the season series:

PEN F - Curtis McKenzie (4-6-10)

PEN F - Denver Manderson (3-7-10)

TRL F - Chad Gehon (2-4-6)

PEN D - Devon Krogh (2-3-5)

PEN D - Zack Josepher (0-5-5)

PEN F - Brodie Reid (3-1-4) **Just 2 GP**

PEN F - Travis Ouellette (3-1-4)

TRL F - Travis St. Denis (2-2-4) **2 OT GWG**

TRL D - Brandon Clark (1-3-4)

GOALIES

TRL - Paul Barclay (3-2-0) 198/218 .908

PEN - Jordan White (2-1-0) 82/89 .921

TRL - Marco Raimondo (1-1-0) 42/47 .894

PEN - Sean Bonar (0-2-0) 62/69 .899