vees:blog

* The Vernon Vipers’ Jones Twins are athletes, not just hockey players. Don’t believe me? Ask the Coure D’Alene Lumbermen who got it good from the Kootenay kids!

Is that KELLEN OR CONNOR?! I can never tell.

* Local Vees power forward Logan Johnston impressed his hometown crowd on Saturday as he potted a pair of goals at the BC HHOF Summer Classic (more than Jarome Iginla). Dave Crompton of the Herald tells us Logan has his sights set on a jump in offensive production this season.

* Kristi Patton of the Penticton Western News gives us the background on Justin Pogge’s rags to riches story (it’s expensive being a goalie). Justin played in the Summer Classic on Saturday and was smiling from ear-to-ear with mother Annet in attendance. Justin was thrilled at the opportunity to give back to minor hockey given his humble roots.

[Insert joke about taking the shirt of his back for charity HERE]

* Brian Weibe has some background on Assistant Coach Luke Pierce of the new and improved Merritt Centennials coaching staff. Don’t expect to see either Port Alberni or Merritt in the basement of their Conference standings this season (where they’ve both been found the past two seasons).

* Somehow I forgot to mention the hockey operations shuffle in Salmon Arm, as Rylan Ferster will now be the full time GM as Matt Hughes takes over the bench duties. Here’s the release from the Silverbacks.

* The Trail Smoke Eaters have officially inked Wade Bennett for the upcoming campaign. Wade is the older brother of Vees recruit Beau Bennett. Both played for the LA Jr. Kings last season.

* A former Alberni Bulldog has been inked by the Vancouver Canucks… But, don’t get too excited Kellan Tochkin apparently played just a single game in the BCHL. Hammer has the follow up.

Kellan in Everett

* Former Salmon Arm Silverback Kris Chucko has re-upped with the Calgary Flames, and will likely play in Abbotsford this season. He scored 28 goals and 51 points last season in the AHL, but he’s no Travis Zajac. Eddie Gregory has more.

We catch up with local boy Justin Pogge, Vees Governor Neil Jamieson, and Curtis McKenzie at the morning skate for the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Summer Classic.

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Tomorrow’s Summer Classic at the SOEC is just one of the big events Garrett Milan has lined up for the Summer of ‘09.

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Vees Assistant Coach David Small and I talk about the Vees upcoming Junior Prep Camp, Osoyoos and Dave’s lack of a tan.

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Former Penticton Vees forward Zac Dalpe garnered some media attention in Raleigh earlier this week.

The 2008 second round pick of the Hurricanes has the Carolina brass pleased with his development and maturation through his first year of college.

Dalpe recorded 13 goals in 37 games in his freshman season with Ohio State, where he battled injury late in the season.

Team Quinn (as selected by Dennis Walker of Giant FM and Andre Martin of the Penicton Herald)

G: Justin Pogge

NHLers: Jarome Iginla, Ryan Smyth, Chuck Kobasew, Matt Pettinger

NHL Alumni: Dixon Ward, Dave Babych, Paul Reinhart

Other Pro/NCAA: Mike Hamilton, Mark Heatley

Junior Players: Dan Conacher

Special Guests: Taylor Kitsch, BC HHOF Auction Roster Spot, Griffin Reinhart

Team Renney (as selected by Allan Gee and Jon Ferebee of EZ Rock and Sun FM)

G: Evan Smith

NHLers: Duncan Keith, Shea Weber, Andrew Ladd

NHL Alumni: Cliff Ronning

Other Pro/NCAA: Brian Lebler

Junior Players: Brett Sonne, Garrett Milan, Devon Krogh, Chad Niddery, Logan Johnston, Brett Lyon

Special Guests: Neil Jamieson, Morgan Rielly

* Shawn Mullin tees up the four-team pre-season exhibition tournament going down in the Kootenays with Smokies head coach and GM Jim Ingram. The Vees and Smokies will be joined by the Coastal Conference champs in the Powell River Kings, and the Brooks Bandits who had last season’s top record in the South Division of the AJHL.

* Former BCHLer Don Nachbaur has been hired as Head Coach of Bingingham Senators (Making Cents has the scoop). Fellow BCHL product Cory Clouston who was promoted to the big club during last season’s mess in the nation’s capital.

Nachbaur played his minor hockey in Prince George as Ron Gallo tells us.

* Former Vees Sniper Austin Smith has the quote of the week:

“British Columbia was like a tropical island compared to Upstate New York. Spring and fall are very nice, but the winter is a little cold.”

The Dallas born and Dallas drafted forward (he’s been playing centre at Colgate) tells Andrew’s Dallas Stars Page he is raising his goals for his Sophomore season. Smitty had 17 bingos and 31 points in 37 freshman appearances with the Raiders. The Texas kid had 67 points in his lone BCHL season and scored the first goal of each game of the BCHL Final in Nanaimo, raising his game in the second season.

* Teams for the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Charity Game will be announced tonight (stay tuned to the blog at around 9PM PST). Dennis Walker and Andre Martin will be selecting team Quinn while Sun FM/EZ Rock boys Randy Farmer, Allan Gee and Jon Ferebee will be joined by Crystal Nohr in selecting Team Renney. If the anticipation of the first pick is distracting you from work today, you aren’t alone. Agonizing over the top pick is common place.

* The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have pulled the trigger on a deal to acquire a 20-year-old tough guy from the AJHL. Alberni will most certainly be better this year, but are they a playoff team? Ask the magic eight ball!

* Curtis McKenzie was in town last weekend and I managed to get him in-studio for a quick chat. The power forward is off to Miami of Ohio this season and was selected by the Dallas Stars in the 6th round of the Entry Draft. I started off by congratulating C-Mac on being drafted…

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If coaching doesn’t work out for Vees Head Coach and GM Fred Harbinson a career as a head-hunter or importer would seem like a natural fit. Not that the bench boss of the Vees should be thinking about a career change, but in this productive off-season, he has proven he excels in the field of recruiting and bringing talent from all over North America to the Okanagan.

Along with the previously discussed Beau Bennett, Ben Sexton, Luke Curadi (among others), Harbinson has also added Jeff Johnson - a maritime product who played US Prep School Hockey last year at Holderness Academy and was mentioned on the early season Draft Watch list last winter.

Here’s a great piece on Johnson from a fish-wrap from New Brunswick called the Daily Gleaner.

I sat down with outgoing (off to Ohio State University) Vees defender Devon Krogh today.

Devon is understandably super excited about lining up with NHLers at Saturday’s charity game in Penticton.

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In an off season of USHL defections, the Penticton Vees have won the Beau Bennett Sweepstakes.

Pursued by the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL and the Tri-City Storm of the USHL the coveted forward will make Penticton his home this Fall.

One of the top Midget Players in the States last year Beau racked up 105 points in 75 all purpose games with the Jr. Kings en route to a Pacific Regional Championship and a trip to the National Championships in Pittsburgh.

Bennett lead the Kings in scoring and is listed as a top prospect for the 2010 Entry Draft and will be a focal point for scouts following Junior in Western Canada.

He may hail from the Beach Boy state, but the California kid is more that comfy on ice.