Murray is back in studio as we are posed with the dilemma of what to do on the heels of two losses to the Westside Warriors. The Vees had won 10-in-a-row heading into Friday’s action and have now lost two straight for the first time this season.
Baseball enthusiast and Salmon Arm Silverback voice Patrick Haas helps us tee up Wednesday’s tilt between the Vees and ‘backs, and pumps the tires of Jason Bay.
Also on the program we hear from Westside Warriors Prez/GM/Managing Partner (read: CZAR) Gary Gelinas on desparity between rich and poor in the BCHL, a new chapter in the history of the Warriors, and the growing South Okanagan rivalry.
The staples (Interior Conference Power Rankings, Murray’s Answering Machine & Highlights) are also in the mix, as well as some great news for Joey Holka and Logan Johnston and the usual tomfoolery.
It’s our last show for a couple weeks, so get your fill of Vees chatter before a brief hiatus.
After suffering just their 3rd regulation loss of the season, the Penticton Vees won’t have any issues identifying why they ended up losing 5-4 last night in Penticton. On the flip-side of the coin, the blue, black and white know exactly where they’ll need to be better if they want a road win tonight.
1) A Slow Start: The Vees had just 3 shots in the first period last night and while they did have possession in the Westside end, they did not make an emphasis of putting the puck on net in the first period. When the Vees were getting pucks to the net later in the game, they were great. In the final 40 minutes they out-shot the 34 to 18 and looked like a hungrier hockey team than they did in the first.
2) The Goaltending Battle: No doubt that Kevin Jebson was the better ‘tender last night at the SOEC. Sean Bonar’s 2009/2010 season has been dazzling, but he’d be the first to tell you last night he wasn’t sharp. Sean’s status as the Vees #1 and a candidate for Top Goalie in the BCHL haven’t changed since last night’s game, and I expect Fred Harbinson to go right back with ‘Bones’ tonight. If the Bonar can out-duel Jebson, it’s tough to see the Vees losing this game.
3) Top Line Battle: As good as the Vees top line was at time last night they were outscored 4-1 at even strength. Shutdown Bailey’s line and the Vees are in good shape. They couldn’t do it last night at home with last change. Can they do it tonight with Darren Yopyk getting to match lines?
HOLKA ON (ST.) CLOUD 9
19-year-old forward Joey Holka has committed to St. Cloud State for the 2011/2012 season. File this under ‘win-win-win situtation’ Joey gets a scholly to a fantastic NCAA hockey program in a state that lives and breathes hockey (Minnesota), the Vees get to keep Joey for next season where he’ll be a monster in the BCHL as a 20-year-old power forward, and St. Cloud State gets a player they now will be ready for the WCHA when he arrives (they also know the coach fairly well).
Heading into training camp I had no idea what Joey’s role would be withe the club. After a fantastic off-season in Phoenix he’s without question the most improved Vees player from last season. Congrats to Joey.
LOCAL LOGAN
The man who smiles when he fights has been given a letter by the Vees. Pentictonite Logan Johnston was named ‘A’lternate Captain of the Vees on Wednesday immediately after Adam Zamec’s departure.
Logan is a character guy who has always been tough and defended team-mates, but is now an integral part of the team’s success. A PK specialist, shutdown forward, and a bone-rattling power forward; Logan has also added an offensive touch this season (7-9-16).
Johnston (the 2nd) is a great choice for an alternate captain, and a player the city of Penticton should be very proud of.
Vees Head Coach and General Manager Fred Harbinson has traded Adam Zamec to the Wellington Dukes of the CCHL (Central Canadian Hockey League) for future considerations.
The second year, 20-year-old forward had a goal and two assists in 11 games this season after a late start due to off season surgery. Named an alternate captain last year, Zamec’s best year of junior was in ‘07/’08 when he scored 17 goals for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL after being traded from Kitchener.
TRUPP TERIFFIC
Evan Trupp has been named a WCHA Player of the Week after recording three goals in two weekend games.
SMITH NAMED TOP RAIDER
Austin Smith was named the Colgate Raiders Male Athlete of the Week after a three goal weekend. Smith was a member of the ‘07/’08 BCHL Champions, and is the only Dallas born hockey player to be drafted by the Stars.
I spoke with Miami Redhawks 18-year-old freshman Curtis McKenzie on Monday.
The new guy is fitting in quite nicely in Ohio as he potted his first goal in his first game against. Curtis is back to the books and getting used to his new club in the CCHA.
Curtis lead the Vees in Goals, Points, GWG, PPG, SHG and PIM last season as a 17-year-old. Curtis was a member of the Canada West World Jr. A Challenge silver medal team, Team West of the CJHL Prospects Game, a BCHL All-Star, was named Captain of the Vees when Denver Manderson was injured in January, and was drafted by the Dallas Stars in June.
The Vees have signed USHL forward Jake Johnson (89) to join the club. Jake represents the Vees last import and 20-year-old spot on the roster, as each BCHL team can carry six 20’s and 8 imports.
Where Johnson fits into the Vees picture is yet to be seen. Johnson arrived in Penticton today and skated with the club in their pre-game ice-time.
ANOTHER COLLEGE COMMITMENT
Late cut from training camp F - Steve Iacobellis (93) - who captains the Vancouver Major Midget Giants - has accepted a scholarship to the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Iacobellis joins fellow 16-year-old Stephan Nicholishin as a future Maverick.
“We are very excited for Steven, he can now focus on playing the game knowing where he will be for the next six years of his career. I look forward to helping develop Steven over the next two seasons”
~ Vees Head Coach and GM Fred Harbinson
The Vees have 8 players committed to NCAA programs on their roster not including Iacobellis who is a safe bet to join this Vees club next season.
VEES VS. COWICHAN VALLEY CAPITALS
- The Cowichan Valley Capitals arrive in the Okanagan today as one of the youngest teams in the BCHL. The Caps are carrying just three 20-year-old, and have 4 players who are 16 or 17 years of age.
- The Caps are averaging a league worst 2.9 goals per game played, and have no players with over 3 goals. The Vees by contrast have seven.
- The Vees have now killed off 11 straight penalties dating back to their loss in Merritt last Tuesday.
- Lost amid his torrid scoring pace is Denver Manderson’s 11 game point streak. The Vees captain has recorded at least a point in each game of the season. Quietly, rookie forward Alex Szczechura has recorded point in each of his last 7 games.
- Adam Zamec will make his season debut tonight for the Vees. The alternate captain has been out recovering from off-season injury, but has been skating with the club for a few weeks now. Zamec will play with Hayden Trupp and Stephan Nicholishin on the 4th line.
- Puck drop is 7:05 from the South Okanagan Events Centre. Catch the broadcast of the game at 6:45 with Chad Campbell (who is pinch hitting for Al Formo) and myself on EZ Rock, at BCHL.ca or at myezrock.com
* Randy Sexton (father of Ben) has finally had the interim tag dropped and been named the new GM of the Florida Panthers. Here’s the press conference from earlier today in Helsinki.
* The Ohio State Buckeyes are a team full of Vees Alumni. Zac Dalpe & Cory Schneider are entering their sophomore season, Devon Krogh is a freshman this year, and down the road current Vees Forward Alex Szczechura will be attending OSU. Other BCHL grads on the Buckeyes include Juniors Hunter Bishop (Vernon) & Erick Belanger (Nanaimo), as well as Sophomore Taylor Stephishen (Langley).
Here’s Zac on the expectation for the Buckeyes this season:
* Another NCAA team laden with BCHLers is the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Junior Evan Trupp (older brother of current Vees forward Hayden) and Sophomore Brett Hextall - the captain of the 2007/2008 Fred Page Cup Champions - play with Seniors Chay Genoway (Vernon) and Darcy Zajac (Salmon Arm).
* Trail is not a team to be taken lightly by the Vees tonight. The Smokies offense has finally woken up after scoring just 10 goals in their first six games of the year. The Orange & Black beat Williams Lake on Sunday and tied Salmon Arm on Tuesday Night and scored 12 goals in the two games.
* Adam Zamec appears to be close to a return in the Vees line-up. Though I doubt he’ll hit the ice this weekend, I wouldn’t be shocked if he made his debut on Wednesday at home against Cowichan.
* Al Formo is back on the broadcast tonight, and we’ll be joined by Chad Campbell in the pre-game show and 2nd intermission. Puck hits ice at 7:05 and the pre-game show on EZ Rock starts at 6:45 (PST… for you long distance fans). If you aren’t listening on EZ Rock in the South Okanagan or Similkameen, you can hop online to MyEZRock.com or swing by the BCHL’s audio scoreboard at BCHL.ca. Finally, if you are in the SOEC at the game you can tune into 105.5 FM to catch the braodcast.
Denver Manderson’s doesn’t seem to mind playing the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The Vees Captain powered the Penticton Vees to a 5-2 victory in the Shuswap on Saturday to sweep a weekend home-and-home. Captain Manderson who leads the BCHL with 24 points, put up eight points over the two game set to extend his BCHL leading point streak to 8 games. Manderson had a goal and three assists in each game and now has 9 goals on the year – another league leading stat.
Manderson’s line-mates played well, as Garrett Milan notched his fifth goal of the year and Beau Bennett tallied his pace setting seventh power play goal. Bennett has yet to score 5-on-5 but sits second in league scoring behind his 20-year-old centre.
BEAU KNOWS THE PP
Alex Szczechura recorded his third goal of the season and added an assist to push his point total to 9 points in 6 games played as a BCHL rookie. While Montreal product Eric Filiou added his third goal of the season.
Mark Zengerle set up both goals for the Silverbacks in a losing cause, with Tyler Gubb and Jagger Dirk finishing off each play. 1,087 fans were in attendance at the Sunwave Centre, where the home team has yet to win this year.
Tony Ierfino and Sean Bonar were both busy on Saturday as the Vees recorded 47 shots and the Silverbacks had 29. Ierfino allowed 4 goals with a fifth being scored into an empty net, while Bonar stopped all but two Salmon Arm attempts. Bonar’s breakaway save in the 3rd period on Mark Zengerle kept the Vees ahead by one and stalled what was a furious comeback attempt by the Silverback in the third period.
Penticton finished 2/8 on the man-advantage, while Salmon Arm was 1/4. On the weekend the Vees finished 4/16 on the PP, while the Silverbacks were 2/12.
Up next for Penticton is a Tuesday night affair in Merritt where the Vees will be without the services of Garrett Milan, Joey LaLeggia, and Sean Bonar who will be in Okotoks, Alberta. The talented trio have all been invited to Team Canada West’s World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge Evaluation Camp that will determine which players will dawn the maple leaf come November in Prince Edward Island.
With the win the Penticton Vees (7-1-0-0) now have 14 of a possible 16 points, good for top spot in the Interior Conference, while the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (3-3-0-1) are dropped to .500 with the loss, and remain in fourth in the Conference.
I spoke with rookie D-man Isaac MacLeod and returning forward Adam Zamec today after Vees practice. While it appears Isaac will make his season debut tonight, Adam’s time-table isn’t so clear.
