vees:blog

Curtis McKenzie is a beast.

C-Mac has played 12 games as the Captain since Denver Manderson’s season ending injury and has racked up 12 goals, 5 assists, and 17 points.

He’s taken the ‘C’ to heart, and continues to improve with each passing game.

Hard to convince people he scored just 3 goals last season!

Miami of Ohio loves him!

It’s early, but Jordan White continues to dominate that battle of the backstops.

Through a half dozen head-to-head meetings, the elder statesman has schooled the young prospect between the pipes.

Jordan White’s numbers against his former club are nothing short of sensational:

(6-0-0) 1.80 GAA, .929 S%

Kevin Genoe’s stats against the Vees leave more to be desired:

(0-7-0) 4.45 GAA, .864 S%

Goal tending is always key in the post-season, but in a best-of-five a big save or two, can be the difference between moving on and booking tee times.

No contest thusfar.

Weird to be talking about the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on the opening day of the playoffs, but there are some news items regarding the BCHL’s 2-year Island Doormat.

“Systemic Issues”

On Monday Allan Kerr addressed the Media at a Press Conference in Port Alberni following the Bulldogs severing ties with Bryant Perrier.

Nothing too spicy here. Just lots of talk about turning the program around, finding their new Head Coach and GM, and Port Alberni being a hockey hotbed.

Bryant Perrier made this statement following Sunday’s news and Kerr’s Monday media scrum.

Some unusual comments were made Perrier in the statement:

Regarding their dreadful early-season play:

“Circumstances outside my control continually drained on everything from team unity to the way our team played. I was never able to put my stamp on the team in a role of head coach. This included game plans, line-ups, leadership issues, ice time, and the way certain players were used.”

Perrier says he then approached ownership about giving him full control of the club, which they granted. He talks about team improvement:

“…for the first time in 2 years players were finally rewarded for efforts. As a coach, I was finally able to coach and manage the way I wanted to”

He goes on to say:

“It was the way it should have been since day one. Despite some systemic issues I have no bitterness towards anyone…”

In closing he states:

“My deepest regret is that I could not have given the players and fans the same type of environment in the Fall, that we were able to give you from November on, You deserved it”

YIKES!

Whether the ’systemic issues’ have anything to do with the OHA, or not, I don’t know. But I do know that those types of statements made by a former employee of both the OHA and the Bulldogs make for horrendous optics as the OHA is the majority owner of the Bulldogs.

One wonders how a hockey school can run a BCHL franchise while managing conflicts of interest between the two entities.

So while Coach Perrier will wear the goat horns in 08/09 and won’t be back for 09/10, can we say the same thing about the alleged ’systemic issues’?

BCHL Broadcaster of the Year

Congrats to Evan Hammond who was named the first ever ‘BCHL Broadcaster of the Year’

The man they call ‘Hammer’ is as entertaining as they come, and is a huge booster of BCHL hockey on the Island. His blogging, morning show hosting on ‘The Peak’ in Port Alberni, weekly BCHL talk-show, and game broadcasts are a big reason why the Bulldogs are as adored as they are.

Hammer is making news as he applies for the ‘Greatest Job in the World’, Check out his video application and maybe I won’t have to compete against him for this award next season!

Congrats Hammer!

One final exchange with Vees Head Coach & GM Fred Harbinson before the playoffs kick off tomorrow.

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The top two Junior ‘A’ leagues in Canada have whittled their 32 teams down to 26 for the post season with just a single ticket to Victoria up for grabs.

The Doyle Cup annually pits the AJHL Champion (Enerflex Cup) against the BCHL Champion (Fred Page Cup) and the winner is the ‘Pacific’ entry to the National Championship ‘RBC Cup’. With Victoria already assured of their ticket to the National Championship (host privilage), there are now 25 teams fighting for one spot.

With the playoffs starting this weekend in Alberta and B.C. let’s take a look at the field (seed in parentheses)

AJHL

SOUTH DIVISION BYE - (S1) Brooks Bandits

NORTH DIVISION BYE - (N1) Spruce Grove Saints

SOUTH 1st ROUND MATCH-UPS

(S2) Okotoks Oilers vs. (S7) Canmore Eagles

(S3) Olds Grizzlies vs. (S6) Drumheller Dragons

(S4) Calgary Canucks vs. (S5) Camrose Kodiaks*^+

NORTH 1st ROUND MATCH-UPS

(N2) Grande Prairie Storm vs. (N7) Lloydminster Bobcats

(N3) Sherwood Park Crusaders vs. (N6) St. Albert Steel

(N4) Bonnyville Pontiacs vs. (N5) Fort McMurray Oil Barons*

BCHL

INTERIOR CONFERENCE BYES - (I1) Vernon Vipers (I2) Salmon Arm Silverbacks

COASTAL CONFERENCE BYES - (Is1) Victoria Grizzlies (M1) Powell River Kings

INTERIOR 1st ROUND MATCH-UPS

(I3) Westside Warriors vs. (I6) Trail Smoke Eaters

(I4) Penticton Vees*^ vs. (I5) Prince George Spruce Kings

COASTAL 1st ROUND MATCH-UPS

(Is2) Cowichan Valley Capitals vs. (Is3) Nanaimo Clippers* (Island Division)

(M2) Langley Chiefs vs. (M3) Surrey Eagles (Mainland Division)

*League Final Participant Last Season ^League Champion +Doyle Cup Champion

These 26 teams will be chopped down to 16 within 2 weeks, the RBC Cup puck drop is just 65 days away.

Oh yeah, here are the less fortunate:

WESTERN CANADIAN BEST BALL

(S8) Calgary Royals, (N8) Drayton Valley Thunder, (I7) Quesnel Millionaires, (I8) Merritt Centennials, (Is4) Alberni Valley, (M4) Burnaby Express

With a few days until the playoffs get going Murray Maxwell and I decided to hit the slopes and have some fun! Murray is a decorated Special Olympian in Alpine Skiing and one of the longest serving members of the Vees.

What a day!

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The BCHL has announced that Curtis McKenzie is the Player of the Week for the stretch of February 16th to 22nd.

C-Mac was a force all week scoring 5 goals (he also has 3 assists) in the final 3 games to hit 30 on the season. The 17-year-old forward from Golden, BC is committed to Miami of Ohio, and has exploded this season after scoring 3 goals last year as a 16-year-old rookie.

McKenzie who was given the ‘C’ after Denver Manderson’s injury, has 26 points in his last 19 games and 11 goals and 4 assists in 11 games as Captain inlcuding his 1st BCHL hattrick and 1st BCHL 4 point game.

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Wins over bye-bound Salmon Arm and Vernon have the Vees streaking into the post-season.

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Playoff Previews, Vees BCHL Award Winners, Highlights, and Coach Harbinson on the pending match-up with the Prince George Spruce Kings.

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Just 3 Vees can lay claim to the title.

Krogh, Milan, Ouellette talk about durability and a full season of healthy hockey.

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