vees:blog

Vees Assistant David Small talks road trip logistics and team bonding.

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The Vees Blog caught up with last year’s Assistant Coach Aaron Wilbur as the blue, black and white practiced at UBC’s Campus.

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The Vees are in Day 2 of a 13 day stretch that sees them play 8 times. Here’s Head Coach and GM Fred Harbinson on last night’s win, today’s practice and tomorrow’s game.

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Twelve games marks exactly 1/5th of the BCHL’s 60 game season, and so let us pause and take account of a young Penticton Vees squad tattooed with the label of ‘defending champs’ despite a huge roster turnover.

A look at the standings finds the Vees in the midst of the tight Interior Conference, but well back in the number of games played. It’s tough to get a sense of where they rank in the Interior, because the rest of the conference has played 15-19 games (as opposed to 12), and the Vees have played Quesnel once, and are yet to play Merritt, arguably the two weakest teams in the conference (by contrast Salmon Arm have played the pair 7 times each, Prince George and Westside 6 times and Trail 5 times,).

Also of note, the Vees have played just 3 home games this season, a remarkably low number due to the construction of the S.O.E.C.. The Vees are a perfect (3-0-0-0) at home, but then again what really is a home game? Today the Vees will conduct their first practice (!) at the S.O.E.C., which will start to give them a feel for the rink. Memorial Arena’s dwarfed dimensions and deceptive corners will now be replaced with a brand new boards and NHL size ice.

Starting tomorrow the Vees will enjoy a three game home-stand (doubling their home games played), before departing on their longest road trip of the season where they play @ Merritt, @ Powell River, @ Surrey, @Burnaby, and @ Langley over a span of 8 days.

Making the long journey more challenging is the fact that the Vees will likely be without the services of top centre Denver Manderson, and gritty 17-year-old standout Curtis McKenzie for all but the first of the 5 game road trip. Manderson and McKenzie have been named to a 25 man expanded roster for Team Canada West of the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge that will get pared down to 22 for the international tournament.

As for the team itself, the biggest challenge for this club is trying not to be dwarfed by comparisons to last years club. The diaper-clad 08/09 release of the Vees features 6 players born in ‘91 & ‘92, 10 rookies, and 5 players who played Midget last season.

The D-core is veteran (4 x 20-year-olds, 2 x 19-year-olds, and 1 x 16-year-old) and the strength of the club, injuries and suspensions excused, they have resembled one of the best groups in the league. Goyens has been steady, Jobke equal to the task, Grossmann as intimidating as ever, and the top four have been sound.

Upfront, the late return of Denver Manderson gives the Vees one of the top offensive players in the BCHL. Perdicaro, Vandenberg and McKenzie have produced with consistency, but aside from the aforementioned quartet the forward ranks need to find the back of the net more regularly. Milan has shown flashes of brilliance, but is still trying to find out what does and doesn’t work in the BCHL. Ditto for Junior ‘B’ standouts Travis Ouellette and Ryan Viselli. Youngsters Ryan Johansen and Logan Johnston are young and improving with each game, playing in an ‘energy-line’ role. Veterans Brad Reid, Mitch Lebreche and David Andreassen have been steady if not spectacular, and Joey Holka has added physicality while his playmaking skills are still adjusting to the quick pace of the BCHL.

Between the pipes inconsistency has plagued the rookie tandem of Borelli and Bonar. It also doesn’t help that for the last 3 years the Vees have had been backstopped by arguably the best goalie in the BCHL at the time (Alex Evin last season, and Cory Milan in previous years). Bonar is just 17 and has at least another year and a half of development in Junior A ahead of him, while Borelli is 19 and has the pressure of living up to the expectations of a #1 goaltender in his first season in the BCHL.

If the club can play well at home for their next three games, tread water on the road without two players from their top line, they have an 8 game homestand waiting for them come mid-November.

I chatted with Fred Harbinson ahead of practice today…

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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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Already dealing with muliptle injuries on their blueline, the Penticton Vees will be without two more defensemen for Friday’s game against the 1st place Trail Smoke Eaters.

The BCHL has suspended Head Coach Fred Harbinson, F Joey Holka, and D-men Elias Grossmann and Zack Josepher for a single game each. The suspensions are a result of a near line brawl that took place in the final minute of the Vees last game in Salmon Arm.

With Matt Paltridge and Nathan Westover out of the lineup last Saturday nursing injuries, the Vees blue line is now VERY THIN.

Who’s left? Well, if Westover and Paltridge can’t get back in the line-up for Friday, the Vees would be left with just Nicholas Goyens, Colton Jobke and Devon Krogh. Fred Harbinson will certainly be making a phone call to the Nelson Leafs to see if AP defender Isaac MacLoed can join the big club for Friday’s affair.

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Vees Head Coach and General Manager Fred Harbinson following Thursday’s Practice.

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Denver Manderson should be in the line-up for the Vees this Friday when the Vees host the Silverbacks at the SOEC.

More with the Coach…

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Tonight, Fred Harbinson makes his season debut after a busy weekend on the road. Also on the weekly program highlights are on tap, new ‘Power Rankings’ are unveiled and we find out what Eli Grossmann’s tie to the US election is!

Boston Pizza Vees This Week Airs at 6PM PST on EZ Rock AM 800.

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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.