vees:blog

The defending champs have returned and the BCHL is well represented as Victoria hosts this year’s RBC Cup.

Here’s a brief look at each of the 5 clubs vying for the most prestigious trophy in Junior A Hockey.

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Here are the new National Rankings.

The BCHL has 3 teams ranked in the top 15 in the country with Salmon Arm sitting 4th, Powell River hoping in to the rankings at 11th, and Victoria dropping to 15th. The AJHL hosts the top two teams in Canada.

This week’s bonus obscure CJHL team is the Couchiching Terriers (not the Couchiching Tigers as the rankings has them listed). The OJHL club has lost just a single game in regulation this season, are ranked 9th in the nation, and have scored 28 goals in their last 3 games while allowing just 6… not bad!

The Terriers were Canadian Jr. A Champions in 1985 and are based in Rama, Ontario on the banks of the Couchiching Lake and home of Casino Rama. Rama is 150 km North of Toronto.

Half Man, Half Bull, All World - Vees 17-year-old Forward Curtis McKenzie has been named to the CJHL Prospects Game in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

To say Curtis has had a successful season to this point, may be the understatement of the year. McKenzie currently leads the Vees in goals (13), and points (28) in just 22 games played, earned a ‘full-ride’ scholarship to Miami of Ohio earlier this season, won a Silver Medal with Team Canada West at the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge, has been named an ‘A’lternate Captain of the Vees, leads all ‘91 born players in BCHL scoring, is tied for the league lead with 4 Short-Handed Goals, and is currently on the NHL watch list as a ‘B’-Grade Prospect for the ‘09 Entry Draft.

Add the CJHL Prospects Game to his long list of accomplishments this season, and expect a BCHL All-Star appearance in Vernon as well!

Way back in the Pre-Season I was expecting big things from C-Mac, and he has obliterated even my lofty expectations.

He should have ran for Prime Minister!

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Canada West Silver Medalists Denver Manderson and Curtis McKenzie talk World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge prior to practice this afternoon.

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For the 1st time in the history of the World Jr ‘A’ Challenge, the USA has won gold. No doubt about this contest, the USHL charges thouroughly dismantled Canada West winning 7-1.

International Junior ‘A’ Hockey will be in the spotlight tonight.

TSN 2 has coverage of the Gold Medal Game of the World Jr. A Challenge live from Camrose starting at 5PM (PST).

Canada West looks for their 3rd consecutive Gold Medal and will face an American team comprised of USHL players. The Penticton Vees are well represented at the showcase event with Denver Manderson and Curtis McKenzie on the team a year after Brett Hextall (UND), Zac Dalpe (Ohio St.) and Trevor Nill (Michigan St.) struck gold with Canada West in Trail, BC.

Manderson leads Canada West in points with 2 goals and 3 assists, while McKenzie has a goal.

Check your local listings for TSN 2 coverage of the event (it was TSN last year).

The Russians and Germans have been eliminated from medal contention at the World Jr. A Challenge.

The Russians were blown out 8-2 by the Americans and the Germans fell to Belarus 7-5 in double-header action yesterday in Camrose. The pair will face off on Saturday in the 5th place game.

C-Mac, Mandy & Canada West will face Belarus, while Canada East sees the USA Saturday’s Semi-Finals action in Camrose.

Cam Tait has more from Alberta (and he’s hip to YouTube kids)!

Curtis McKenzie and Denver Manderson each had a point as Canada West beat Russia 5-2 last night to earn their first win at the WJAC.

McKenzie scored on the Power Play and was set up by Justin Schultz (Westside Warriors D-man) and Denver Manderson in the 2nd period.

Derek Grant of the Langley Chiefs notched a pair for Canada West in the win that sees the club take over top spot in Group A with 4 points (turns out they did award a point for Canada West’s OTL to Belarus).

Tonight Canada East and the USA battle in Group B action and the final game of the Preliminary Round of play.

Cam Tait has been following the WJAC and says things got ugly after the game last night.

After being shocked 4-3 in a shootout against Belarus on Sunday, Team Canada West faces Russia tonight. All 3 teams both groups (A & B) will advance to the elimination round, but the top seeded team move to the semi-final, rather than play in the quarterfinals.

A win for Canada West Tonight would put the club in a 3 way tie for first in Group A, while a loss or tie would result in the team ranked 3rd (A3). I imagine the tie-breaking formula would involve goals for and against (email me if you know). Mysteriously there is no point awarded for a Shoot-Out Loss in the tournament, which seems silly to me.

Denver Manderson scored shorthanded in the first game of the preliminary round after posting 3 assists in exhibition play, Curtis McKenzie is yet to hit the score sheet.

Here the skinny on the ‘WJAC‘.

The Vees have been dropped from the CJAHL’s all seeing, all knowing, all encompassing National Rankings.

The BCHL has 3 clubs in the Canadian Top 15 click on the link for the full rankings.

BONUS OBSCURE CJAHL TEAM OF THE WEEK: Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League.

While the Woodstock Slammers sounds like a great band name, they are actually a hockey team from Woodstock, New Brunswick that are home to the snazziest flash webpage in the CJAHL! Their logo seems to be a crazed Scandinavian Viking that carries around a huge mallet. Woodstock opened their season with a win in Weeks (New Glasgow, NS). Round one of the much feared Smashers/Crushers rivalry!