vees:blog

Here’s a look at some interesting numbers from the Vees 2009/2010 roster as it stands.

1 - 16-year-old (Stephan Nicolishen)

1 - Player remaining from the 2007/2008 BCHL Champion Vees (Denver Manderson)

2 - Players from Saskachewan (Byron Sorensen, Joel Rumpel), Quebec (J.C. Lirette, Eric Filiou), and Minnesota (Derik Johnson, Bo Dolan)

3 - 17-year-olds (Hayden Trupp, Isaac MacLeod, Joey LaLeggia)

3 - Players from the Greater Vancouver Area (LaLeggia, Sean Bonar, Mitch Jones)

4 - 19-year-olds (Joey Holka, Johnson, Alex Szczechura, Dolan)

4 - Players with Major Junior Experience (Manderson, Matt Paltridge, J.C.Lirette, Adam Zamec)

6 - Americans (Luke Curadi, Dolan, Johnson, Beau Bennett, Trupp, Joey Holka)

6 - Players graduating from Midget Hockey (LaLeggia, Trupp, Bennett, Rumpel, Sorensen, Nicholishen)

6 - 20-year-olds, which is the league maximum (Manderson, Lirette, Zamec, Paltridge, Filiou, Ryan Viselli)

6 - BC products on the roster (Bonar, Milan, Jones, LaLeggia, MacLeod, Johnston)

7 - Players from Ontario (Nicholishen, Manderson, Ben Sexton, Szczechura, Paltridge, Viselli, Zamec)

8 - Imports, which is the league maximum (Bennett, Curadi, Rumpel, Sorensen, Sexton, Lirette, Szczechura, Dolan)

9 - Returning players (Manderson, Milan, Zamec, Paltridge, Johnson, Johnston, Holka, Bonar, Viselli)

9 - 18-year-olds (Bonar, Jones, Sorensen, Johnston, Milan, Sexton, Rumpel, Curadi, Bennett)

10 - Rookies (Curadi, Bennett, Szczechura, Jones, MacLeod, Sonrensen, Rumpel, Trupp, Nicholishen, LaLeggia)

14 - Newcomers (all but the 9 returning players!)

OTHER ROSTER NOTES

FORWARDS

Steve Iacobellis

Veterans Forwards Mitch Lebreche (Powell River Kings, BCHL) and Erik Slemp (Camrose Kodiaks, AJHL) were moved with the log-jam of talented forwards. Jeff Johnson has gone back to the Maritimes, and Mike Bosco has headed back to the US after unsuccessful bids to make the club. Steve Iacobellis is back to the Vancouver Major Midget Giants after an impressive pre-season. J.C. Lirette has yet to suit up for the Vees, after being acquired for L.P. Boucher. Mitch Jones earned a spot as a versatile player, as he plays both forward and defense. Adam Zamec has also not played a game yet this year as he is recovering from injury.

DEFENDERS

Bo Dolan

A very talented group though perhaps a touch raw, this was a tough group to crack. Bob Pond will likely surface in Junior A soon, but didn’t do enough to steal one of the 7 roster spots. Bo Dolan was the surprise of the pre-season to me as his well rounded game (hits, skates, fights, distributes) earned him a spot despite being an import. Mitch Jones (as mentioned above) will play on the back end when injuries and scheduling provide him that opportunity. Isaac MacLeod has yet to suit up in game play but is practicing with the team as he recovers from injury.

GOALIES

Billy Faust

Billy Faust was the odd man out after a hard fought battle with Joel Rumpel for the right to back up Sean Bonar. Faust will play for the Nelson Leafs this year with designs on playing a ton and being the man here in Penticton next season. The Leafs have a great history of turning out solid Junior net-minders such as Grant Rollheisier (who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008) with Bill McDonnell as their goaltending coach. Bonar has yet to play this season, but is ready for game action.