vees:blog

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!

The BCHL announced today that 9 BCHL players have been selected to represent Canada West at the World Jr. A Challenge. 25 players were announced today as part of the pre-tournament squad, and that number will be cut down to 22 for tournament play.

Representing the Penticton Vees at the tournament are Curtis McKenzie and Denver Manderson. The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are also sending a pair of players to the showcase event as Matt Grassi and Travis Statchuk got the nod. The Canada West Brass is comprised of Boris Rybalka (Camrose Kodiaks Head Coach and GM) who will act as Head Coach, Rylan Ferster (Salmon Arm Silverbacks Head Coach and GM) and Dwight MacMillan (Weyburn Red Wings Head Coach) will serve as assistants and GM Leonard Strandberg (Operations Director of the OCN Blizzard).

Assuming Manderson and McKenzie make the cut The Vees will be without the services of gritty 17-year-old and play making 19-year-old from the 28th of October to the 10 of November, a stretch that sees the Vees play 6 games.

Last season the Vees sent Brett Hextall, Zac Dalpe and Trevor Nill to the International event, and Canada West won the Gold Medal.

Here are Coach Harbinson, Denver Manderson and Curtis McKenzie on the news.

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The CJAHL has released their first edition of authoritative National Jr. ‘A’ Rankings.

How do you compare the Penticton Vees (BCHL) to Les Cobras de Terrabonne (LHJAAAQ) to the Kindersley Klippers (SJHL), when they don’t play each other all year?? Good Question. I certainly can’t do it!

The CJAHL clearly has a network of hidden arena cameras, bugged phone lines and a staff of thousands compiling and sorting data to create the rankings!

Without further ado, here they are.

BONUS OBSCURE CJAHL TEAM OF THE WEEK: Waywayseecappo Wolverines (Manitoba Junior Hockey League)

The Waywayseecappo Wolverines are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, and have a superb ticket rate of $3 for 12 and under. Waywayseecappo is a ‘First Nation’ located near Russell, Manitoba, the hometown of Theo Fleury.

The BCHL front office has stepped up the league’s promotion this season.

The new website, ad campaign (’Smart Hockey’), ‘pay-per-view’ streaming video, and monthly publication are just a few of the new strategies that are keeping the BCHL ahead of other Jr. ‘A’ leagues in Canada. The league has also featured a Game of the Week showcasing strong match-ups.

The Penticton Vees and Salmon Arm Silverbacks are the headliner this week. Check out what the coaches have to say about their opponent.