vees:blog

Check out Denver Manderson’s player profile with Bernie Pascall.

Denver - in his 3rd year with the Vees - has been in the spotlight after a sensational start to his 20-year-old season. The captain is on pace for 129 points and is in the thick of the scoring race with Salmon Arm’s Mark Zengerle.

Crazy news around the team in the last 24 hours.

The Vees line-up will reflect a few changes from sick-bay. Bonar is out with SWINE FLU while Ben Sexton will return to the line-up tonight after getting injured on October 25th in Port Alberni.

These are turbulent times!

Let’s wish Sean Bonar the speediest of recoveries from the swine flu, and hope that nobody else (he billets with Logan Johnston’s family) catches the extra vicious bug.

I caught up with Fred Harbinson prior to Wednesday’s morning skate to discuss the news and the ramifications on the team for the remainder of the week.

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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.

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COACH’S CORNER TONIGHT

More on the Adam Zamec trade, the Vees winning streak reaching 10 games, and the Vees new alternate captain tonight at the Kettle Valley Station Pub as Fred Harbinson gathers with the local media from 6 ’til 7. Also we’ll talk about the Westside Warriors club the Vees will play twice this weekend and the 5 members of the Vees and Warriors that were on Team Canada West at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge.

A pair of tickets for Friday’s game with the Warrriors is on the line to the best question from the audience.

SOEC PROMOTIONS… CHEAP BEER & MORE!

The folks at the SOEC have put together all the ingredients for a zany night come November 27th. All that’s left is to fill the building. On that brave Friday night the Vees face the lowly Williams Lake Timberwolves who are on to their third coach prior to the midway point of their reincarnation. The T-wolves have won just 5 games this season and have allowed 31 goals in 5 blowout losses in November.

Time to practice that goal dance.

The Vees and their potent offensive skills should make for lots to cheer about at the SOEC on the 27th… and if that isn’t enough to entice you to the rink, well… Then there is the $2 BEER.

Yes, you read that right. $2 BEER. WOW. We may have to cancel the broadcast.

Like Unicorns and the ‘pot of gold’ at the end of the rainbow, $2 Beer is talked about often, but is believed to be a mythical entity. Not on the night of the 27th my friends… See you there!

Other special offers at the SOEC this month include…

NOV 13 vs. WESTSIDE - Seniors Night - $6 tix, $1 coffee. No need to hang out at A&W and Timmy’s all day.

NOV 18 vs. SALMON ARM - $1 Hot dogs & Season Ticket Exchange - Redeem unused season tix for a $6 ticket then gorge yourself on dollar dogs.

NOV 28 vs. PRINCE GEORGE - Teddy Bear Toss & Toonie Night at the Concession. Lots more on this as the date approaches.

BEAU NEEDS A HANDLE

ZAMEC GONE

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.

More Vees banter courtesy the good folks at the Kettle Valley Station Pub and Cannery Brewing.

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COACH’S CORNER

Join Fred Harbinson, the local media and myself at Coach’s Corner at the Kettle Valley Station Pub tonight from 6 ’til 7. We’ll be yaking about the success the Vees have enjoyed on the ice through their first third of the season, also some clarification on Hayden Trupp’s ‘AP’ status with the club, and how it came to be. Also tonight, a preview of the Langley Chiefs who the Vees will play a home-and-home with this weekend starting in Penticton tomorrow.

A pair of tickets to Friday’s tilt with Langley are on the line for the best question from the audience.

WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE

Beau Bennett and Team USA are through to the WJAC Semi-Finals. A 3-1 win today over Sweden put the Yankees in against the Russians tomorrow for the right to play for the Gold Medal. For the first time in the tournament, Beau Bennett was held off the score sheet for Team USA. Both Goalies were named players of the game.

The winner of the Canada West and Belarus game today will face the host team - Team Canada East - on Friday for the other entry to the Championship match which goes Sunday.

More updates to come on Team Canada West:

* Puck just dropped and Sean Bonar is in the net for Canada West for the third straight game

**It’s 4-2 Canada West in the 2nd period. Cam Reid and Connor Jones have a pair each

*** 5-3 after 40 minutes with Madison Dias getting Canada West’s 5th. Bonar is 13/16, LaLeggia was initially given an assist on the Dias goal but has since had it removed.

**** ‘MAKE THE FINAL’ 7-3 Canada West with Cam Reid notching the hat trick and Joey LaLeggia chipping in with a pair of assists (they ended up giving him that assist on the Dias goal after all). Sean Bonar made 18 saves on 22 shots in the victory. Canada West will play Canada East tomorrow (awkward) with the fans backing the Eastern boys. The two teams have yet to play this tournament.

One third of the way into the 2009/2010 campaign, the Penticton Vees are on pace for their highest output since being renamed the Vees in 2004.

The Vees wait on the bench for another flood at practice

In fact since junior hockey arrived in Penticton in the 1961 no team has never eclipsed 100 points, though through a third of the season the Vees are ahead of that mystical century mark as 17-2-0-1 is a pace for a 105 point season. While that is just a projection, there are reasons to believe that maybe, just maybe, the Vees can continue to roll at their current pace.

For budding historians in the crowd 52 wins is the BCHL record set by the New Westminster Royals in 89-90 and the Vernon Vipers of 98-99. That New-West club also had 108 points, which stands as the BCHL record. The Royals beat Fred Harbinson (the player) and the Calgary Canucks that year in the Doyle Cup… Crazy.

Clearly this club is deep and talented. Clearly they are among the best teams in Junior ‘A’ in Canada. Clearly there are players who will be selected in the NHL Entry Draft this coming June in LA (Beau Bennett, Luke Curadi, Joey LaLeggia, Sean Bonar, and Isaac MacLeod are on scouting radars). The rest is still to be determined.

With the first 20 games in the history books, let’s pour a scotch, light the fireplace, and take a closer look at how the season has gone to this point. (more…)

Hayden Trupp has been designated an ‘Affiliated Player’ and has been assigned to the Penticton Lakers of the KIJHL (Jr. B).

With BC Hockey reversing their decision, and deeming Trupp an import, the Vees were forced to make a move with their roster already sitting at the league maximum of 8 imports. Trupp will play for the Vees this weekend, after which he will be allowed 10 games for the big club in the remainder of the regular season. Once the Lakers season has ended Trupp would be free to play with the Vees with no restriction. The Vees now have an open roster spot.

The 17-year-old forward has no shortage of skill but has been physically outmatched in his rookie season. Trupp has recorded a goal and an assist in 16 BCHL games after playing Midget hockey in Alaska last season.

Hayden was born in Penticton in 1992, his father and older brother both played their Junior hockey in Penticton.

I spoke with Vees HC/GM Fred Harbinson after Tuesday’s Practice…

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