vees:blog

The Penticton Vees are sad to see the month of October end after a 4-1 win over the Merritt Centennials that moved the club to 10-0-0-1 in the second month of the BCHL season.

Billy Faust earned his first career BCHL win and the Vees vaulted over Vernon and into first place in the Interior Conference with their seventh consecutive win on Saturday. The Vees have earned 21 of 22 points in October while outscoring their opponents 55-12 over the eleven game streak.

Saturday saw the Vees pepper the Cents with 42 shots while allowing just 18. A flu shortened Centennials bench was no match for the Vees short bench with three players at the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge in Prince Edward Island and another gone to injury.

Logan Johnston was the games first star and only player to record a multi-point night as he rifled in his fifth of the year on a wicked wrister and set up Eric Filiou’s sixth of the season. Garrett Milan added his twelfth of the year on a shot from in close and Ryan Viselli’s sixth of the year opened the scoring as he tucked home a back-hand in the first period.

Denver Manderson and Jake Johnson bumped their point streaks to seven games as each added an assist in the win.

The Centennials lone goal came at the 16:35 mark of the third period that spoiled Billy Faust’s shutout bid. Alex Valenti whacked in a puck in the slot and Colton Sobchek and Derek Hills drew assists. Riley Wall made 38 saves on 42 shots in his first BCHL game of the season, playing as an AP for the Centennials.

The Vees did not score a goal over the weekend, but were perfect on the penalty kill. On Friday the Vees ended up 0/4 on the man-advantage, but were perfect in killing all three minors assessed to the club.

Next up for the Vees are the Langley Chiefs who will visit Penticton on Friday then host the Vees on Saturday from the brand new Langley Events Centre.

VEES vs. CENTENNIALS

Another short-staffed two clubs will hit the ice at the SOEC this weekend. The Vees will be without the aforementioned 3 WJAC competitors as well as Bruins pick Ben Sexton. Merritt meanwhile have been ravaged by the flu bug (not H1N1) to the point where Friday’s game vs. Vernon was in question earlier in the week. The Cents aren’t the only club who have been hit by the flu bug as Burnaby was missing 5 regulars in last night’s 8-0 loss in Penticton, and tonight’s tilt between the Clippers and Grizzlies has been canceled (speculation has the flu as the culprit).

The EVIL Flu Bug

The Cents are running through goalies like I run through clean socks on a road trip… after adding another young tender in Cameron Dagg (the Cents third 17 or younger), the club has finally brought in an veteran guy in the form of 20-year-old Riley Wall who is a Jr. B journeyman. The Cents have allowed more goals against than any other team in the Milky Way… check that, just the BCHL.

For more on all things red, white and black head to Making Cents: The Centennials Blog.

Meanwhile, you can look for Billy Faust to make his first BCHL regulation start tonight. Faust is an L.A. kid who was teammates with Beau Bennett last year on the LA Jr. Kings (Midget) and has posted great numbers in Nelson (KIJHL, Jr. ‘B’) thus far this season. The Cali-kid has a tough act to follow as Joel Rumpel hung a zero on the Burnaby Express last night for his first BCHL shutout.

Tonight’s broadcast will start at 6:45 on EZ Rock in the South Okanagan and Similkameen, at BCHL.ca at the audio scoreboad, and at MyEZRock.com. I’ll be flying solo as Al Formo is dressing up for Halloween as the invisible man.

WJAC UPDATE

Though the tournament has yet to begin with the games that actually matter, Team Canada West has suited up for a pair of exhibition games in the Maritimes. On Thursday the Western Canadians beat Belarus 3-2 in a shootout, while they dropped a 5-2 decision to the defending gold medalists from USA last night.

As for the Vees in the competition, Beau Bennett has recorded an assist in his only game for the Yankees, while Sean Bonar has a win in his only appearance and stopped all three shots in the shootout, while Joey LaLeggia (who’s name is spelled ‘LaLegea’ in the boxscore) has a single assist in his two games played.

The real action gets underway on Sunday when the Canada West crew face the Russians, and the Americans clash with the Swedes. Elimination games begin on Thursday.

For more on the WJAC go HERE.

The Penticton Vees didn’t miss a beat with four of their top players out of the line-up on Friday Night, as they pounded the Burnaby Express 8-0 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Alex Szczechura had two assists while filling on the Vees top line

Joey Holka and Bo Dolan notched a pair of goals each, and rookie puck-stopper Joel Rumpel turned aside all 33 shot for his first BCHL shutout and the Vees sixth consecutive victory. Harrison May allowed all eight goals on 45 Vees shots in the eleventh loss in the last thirteen games for the Express.

Captain Denver Manderson added another 3 points including his 15th goal of the season, while newcomer Taylor Peters had a short handed goal and two assists in his first BCHL game since being assigned to Penticton from Portland of the WHL. Other Vees recording multi-point nights were Garrett Milan, Jake Johnson, and Alex Szczechura. Johnson now has 8 points in 7 games since arriving in Penticton after starting his junior career with the Sioux City Muskateers of the USHL.

The Penticton home victory spoiled the return of former Vees Brad Reid, Jimmy Geerin, Matt Ridley and Luke Challier – who had multiple opportunities but failed to get the puck past Joel Rumpel.

With Sean Bonar and Joey LaLeggia playing for team Canada West in the World Junior A Challenge in P.E.I. and Ben Sexton out with an upper body injury, the Vees showed superior depth to their opponents who were also missing numerous players to a flu bug that has passed through their team.

When the dust settled on Friday nine Vees players had a point while seven had multi point nights. The Vees have 19 point in their last ten games with the only hiccup an overtime loss to the Vipers on October 9th. The Vees sit one point behind the Vipers for top spot in the Interior Conference, while Vernon holds a game in hand.

The Vees power play was the lone blemish on the night as the Vees finished 0/3, though the penalty kill was a perfect 6/6.

Tomorrow the Vees host the Merritt Centennials who are battling the flu and lost 10-4 to Vernon on Friday. Opening face-off is at 7:05 while the pre-game show on EZ Rock starts at 6:45.

Amid the usual conversation at the KVS Pub regarding the week that was, the upcoming match-ups, and the storylines of the week in the BCHL was something that seemed to strike a nerve with the Vees Head Coach and GM.

On the heels of their recently released 2010 Watch List, Fred Harbinson was awfully vocal about his displeasure with NHL Central Scouting and their lack of exposure for the BCHL. Fred seemed particularly disappointed with Isaac MacLeod’s absence from the list, and I suppose you can see his point. If a 6′5 17-year-old defender who skates well isn’t a prospect, what is!?

Other topic broached include the team’s precautionary measures regarding the H1N1 flu epidemic (pandemic?!). Fred’s son Freddy (who lives in Wisconsin) is among the growing number of young athletes that have caught the Swine Flu.

Also, Fred walks us through the acquisition of Taylor Peters a big 17-year-old kid who played a full season with the Portland Winterhawks last year. The timing couldn’t be better as the Vees are facing short bench for the next two weeks with the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge going on in PEI.

With the Burnaby Express in town featuring four former Vees, the home side missing four regulars, and the expected debut of newcomer Taylor Peters there are all sorts of reasons to be at the SOEC tomorrow.

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The ranks are getting thin for the Penticton Vees as the look towards two home games this weekend.

Sean Bonar and Joey LaLeggia left on Monday for PEI as members of Team Canada West for the upcoming 2009 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. Departing today was Beau Bennett who is the only non USHL member of team USA at the international event. A former WJAC player Ben Sexton (he suited up for team Canada East last year) is also unavailable for to the Vees, but it’s not because he’s taking part in the WJAC.

Ben Sexton left Sunday’s game and didn’t return after suffering an upper body injury. Sexton’s will not participate in this weekend’s action with Burnaby and Merritt, while his status for next weekend is still up in the air.

With Sexton’s injury the Vees are now looking at a weekend of play without their top power play defensman in LaLeggia, their top right winger in Bennett who is 3rd in BCHL scoring, their second line centre (Sexton), and Sean Bonar who is ranked 2nd in the BCHL in wins and save percentage, and sits 3rd in goals against average. EGADS!

The above probably helps explain why Fred Harbinson welcomed Taylor Peters into the fold today. The 17-year-old forward has played a full season in the WHL, and was assigned to the Vees today from the Portland Winterhawks.

Peters is a big kid who has recorded 10 points in 78 games in the ‘dub’. Taylor was named the winner of the Winterhawks Scholastic Award (which he shared with current Vernon Viper Sawyer Mick) last season, but cracked the ‘hawks line-up just three times this season.

Peters will join the Vees tomorrow and will surely make his Vees debut this weekend. For more on Taylor, check out his blog that he had for last season in Portland.

Fred Harbinson will have more on the transaction Thursday night from the Kettle Valley Station Pub, where Coach’s Corner gets back underway after a two week hiatus. Join us from 6-7 for your chance to join the media scrum and win a pair of tickets to Friday’s game Against the Burnaby Express.

Joey Holka, Luke Curadi, Joel Rumpel and Byron Sorensen were all at Queen’s Park Elementary School today to read with the grade 5 class and play a game of street hockey.

The Vees will visit over a dozen schools in the South Okanagan this season to talk about the importance of reading and staying fit.

Weekend NCAA highlights include Cory Schneider posting his first two-point NCAA game for Ohio State, Maine captain Tanner House notching a pair in his first weekend back from injury, Steve Cameron and Cody Collins leading Mercyhurst to a pair of wins, and a monster 3-point game from Alex MacLeod for Michigan Tech.

Tanner House crashes the net for the Maine Black Bears

Brennan Barker D (SR, Alabama-Huntsville) - 6GP 0-2-2 6PIM

Anthony Borelli G (FR, Brown) - Season Not Underway

Steve Cameron F (JR, Mercyhurst) - 6GP 3-1-4 2PIM

Cody Collins F (SR, Mercyhurst) - 6GP 1-1-2 0PIM

Deron Cousens D (JR, Michigan Tech) - 4GP 1-1-2 6PIM

Zac Dalpe F (SO, Ohio State) - 5GP 1-3-4 0PIM

Alex Evin G (SO, Colgate) - 3GP (1-1-1) 2.64 .911

Brett Hextall F (SO, North Dakota) - 6GP 2-0-2 18PIM

Tanner House F (JR, Maine) - 2GP 2-0-2 2PIM

Zack Josepher D (FR, Michigan State) - 6GP 2-2-4 2PIM

Devon Krogh D (FR, Ohio State) - 4GP 0-1-1 0PIM

Eric Kroshus F (SO, Harvard) - Season Not Underway

Justin Krueger D (SR, Cornell) - Season Not Underway

Brian Lebler F (SR, Michigan) - 4GP 1-1-2 6PIM

Alex MacLeod F (SO, Michigan Tech) - 4GP 1-2-3 2PIM

Bryant Molle D (JR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 4GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Curtis McKenzie F (FR, Miami-Ohio) - 6GP 2-3-5 12PIM

Cory Milan G (JR, Union) - 5GP (3-1-1) 2.29 .920

TJ Miller D (SR, Northern Michigan) - 4GP 0-0-0 2PIM

Trevor Nill F (SO, Michigan State) - 5GP 0-0-0 8PIM

Bryan Mountain G (FR, Northeastern) - NO STARTS

Kaare Odegard D (FR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 3GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Travis Ouellette F (FR, Ferris State) - 5GP 2-0-2 2PIM

Cory Schneider F (SO, Ohio State)- 5GP 0-2-2 0PIM

Austin Smith F (SO, Colgate) - 5GP 2-1-3 4PIM

Evan Trupp F (JR, North Dakota) - 6GP 1-4-5 2PIM

Brent Vandenberg F (FR, Niagara) - 3GP 1-0-1 2PIM

Eddie Gregory joins us to preview Friday’s pending visit from the Burnaby Express (lots of former Vees on that squad). Also we hear from the Head Scout of the Vees, catch highlights of a successful 6-days on Vancouver Island, and pick Coach Fred Harbinson’s brain as we cornered him on the ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver last night.

Who’s leading the Vees in the 3 star standings?? Rock hard hits?? Hardest working honours? Yeah.. we’ve got that too!

‘Vees This Week’ is brought to you by Boston Pizza. Be sure to join us at BP’s on the 3rd of November as the whole team will be in attendance to sign autographs, and we’ll have prizes galore - including a spectacular Canucks prize package including two ticket to a ‘nucks game and a night’s stay in Vancouver. See you there!

Listen Now:

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WJAC DEPARTURES & FAUST’S RETURN

Sean Bonar and Joey LaLeggia are off to PEI today with the rest of Team Canada West for the 2009 World Jr. A Challenge. Team Canada West has 2 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal in the three years that the competition has been in existance… no pressure guys.

Beau Bennett will leave on Wednesday to join Team USA who are the reigning gold medalists.

with Sean Bonar gone to PEI, Billy Faust returns to Penticton today to join the Vees for their next four games. The odd man out in the crease at training camp, Billy has been playing with the Nelson Leafs of the KIJHL, where he 5 wins, a shutout and a GAA of 2.14. Billy and Beau Bennett both played for the LA Jr. Kings (Midget) last year and have come to BC to further their hockey careers. Expect Billy to start at least one of the next four games for the Vees.

DRAFT HYPE

Central Scouting’s NHL watch list has been released and 5 BCHLer have made the preliminary list. While 5 player isn’t a whopping number for the whole league, the fact that the Vees have 3 of the 5 players is an incredible feat.

Beau Bennett has been graded a B prospect, while defenders Luke Curadi and Joey LaLeggia are rated C prospects. Other BCHLers mentioned include Westside Warriors forward Greyson Downing and Langley Chiefs defender Tim Daly.

Central Scoutings give players a grade in the ‘Watch List’, then will release a ‘Mid-Term Rankings’ in January before ‘Final Rankings’ are issued in April.

Speaking with numerous hockey people who know more than I do over the past week, Sean Bonar, and Isaac MacLeod are also garnering all sorts of attention from NHL scouts.

VEES THIS WEEK

We’re back on the air-waves on EZ Rock tonight as Boston Pizza Vees This Week is back after a ‘bye’ week. We’ll chat with Eddie Gregory of the Burnaby Express to preview Friday’s tilt at the SOEC, also new Interior Confernece Power Rankings, Weekend Highlights, a chat with Fred Harbinson after sweeping the Island, and other shenanigans.

CJHL NATIONAL RANKINGS & OTHER NON-SENSE

The Vees fell a spot to fifth in the CJHL National Rankings while Vernon remains at 3rd in the nation. The Kingston Voyageurs (OJAHL) and Dauphin Kings (MJHL) who play in vastly weaker leagues than the BCHL are listed in the top four.

Again, I’ll mention the need for more transparancy in the process of ranking teams from coast to caost. If there is a formula, what is it!?? Is there a ouija board quotient?!