vees:blog

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:

* The 2009/2010 BCHL Schedule has been released. The Vees start in Williams Lake on the September 11th - their first of 4 straight on the road - and will finish with 5 in a row at home to close out the season on the 21st of February. Yes, the schedule has been ammended, and each team will visit every rink in the league (what a concept!), as opposed to last years wonky set up that deprived the Vees a trip to Vancouver Island (”booooo”), and the scene of their 2008 hoisting of the Fred Page Cup (”boooo-urns”).

* The USHL has been poaching American talent from the BCHL… Shawn Mullin from the devastated Smoke Eaters (they’ve lost two of their top D-men) has the skinny on that, as does Brian Wiebe of ‘Making Cents’ (the Merritt Centennials blog) who lost Tyler Pistone, and won’t be getting compensation.

* A few rule changes have filtered down from the NHL to the BC league.

* Michael Remmerde (a Western Canadian scout) has a good look at the crop of ‘09 draft eligible players including some BCHL talent. Curtis McKenzie is high on his list:

“I love this guy and don’t know why he doesn’t get more attention. I may have him way higher than most, but I’d probably start arguing for him with a 2nd round pick. And if I lost that argument and it came back around to the 3rd round and he was still there, I’d flip over the table to get this guy.”

Apparently I’m not the only one with a man-crush on C-mac.

* The Vees and Smokies have recruited 2 players that combine for 13+ feet and 500+ pounds of nastiness (can you see Al Formo smiling ear-to-ear)?! The Vees have a commitment from bohemeth rearguard Luke Curadi who is a 6′6, 245 pounds, and eligable for the ‘09 NHL Entry Draft. Meanwhile the Smokies have picked up 6′7, 255 pound Surrey product Matthew Malenstyn. Smokies vs. Vees could be renamed ‘The Royal Rumble’ if these two don’t get along!

* The Westside Warriors are trying to replace Mark Howell who has bolted for the U of C Dinos (get ready to run some stairs Dinos!). Owner Gary Gelinas has stated it won’t be hard to find qualified coaches, but he knows this is a very important hire at hand. tic tic tic tic… it’s almost July!

* The Williams Lake Timberwolves of 09/10 are looking a lot like the Castlegar Rebals of 08/09 (KIJHL) says Shawn Mullin.

* Merritt has a new Head Coach. Nice to report some positive happenings from the Nicola Valley… a change of pace, no doubt!

* The Vees Blue-line has undergone some major changes as Dave Crompton reports for the Herald. Colton Jobke has decided to move on to the Kelowna Rockets, he was excellent as a 16-year-old last season, and gets my nod as last years Vees player with the funkiest shoes!

Coach on Jobke’s departure:

“Colton and his family were really up front with us on the situation and he is obviously going to one of the best major junior programs in the country,” said Harbinson. “We‘re proud to be able to develop players whether they‘re moving on to playing at the college and university, minor pro or major junior levels.”

* Curtis McKenzie has decided to graduate to NCAA hockey at Miami (of Ohio) this season, good news for the Red Hawks, bad news for the Vees who lose their leading scorer and interim Captain. Crompton has more on the the ‘C’, ‘A’s and Curtis’s decision.

* Brett Hull former Penticton Knight who holds the BCHL record with 105 goals in a 60 game regular season (!!!!!!) has been inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Darren Dreger of TSN reports apparently the ‘Golden Brett’ saw it coming! (scroll down to June 23rd and 24th updates) And if you aren’t on Twitter yet, you missed SHAQ finding out he was traded to the Cavs via message from an NBA fan! Pure comedic gold. Here I am.

* Ron Gallo the long-time voice of the Prince George Spruce King has joined the blogging masses with his site called ‘Spruce Kings Crusader‘. Welcome aboard Ron!

* Well travelled BCHL netminder, and former Panther Brad Thiessen hoists Lord Stanley’s Mug. Signed in April by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Thiessen suited up for 42 games for the Panthers in 03/04 on top of stints in Merritt and Prince George in the BCHL.