vees:blog

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.