vees:blog

The Vees and Warriors meet for the 4th time this season tonight in Westside. The Vees have 2 wins and a single loss against the Warriors this season. Last Saturday the Warriors picked up their first franchise win in Penticton on their 13th trip to the Peach City.

The Warriors are in 3rd place in the Interior with 32 points in 25 games, while the Vees sit in 5th with 26 points in 22 games.

The Vees have made a pair of roster moves upfront in the last week. Adam Zamec was acquired after he was released by the Ottawa ’67s of the OHL, and Erik Slemp was added from the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL in exchange for Anthony Perdicaro. No word on Slemp’s participation in tonight’s game… yet. Also returning to the Vees are Denver Manderson and Curtis McKenzie who won Silver with Team Canada West at the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge in Camrose, they were both given a letter upon their return to the team. Ryan Viselli sat out last Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Warriors as a medical precaution after taking a heavy hit on Friday Night, he will play tonight in Westside. Nicholas Goyens won’t suit up for the Vees tonight as there is a ‘carding issue regarding the Quebec Jr. A League’ - (BCHL’s website).

The Warriors will also welcome back a Silver medalist from the World Jr. A Challenge tonight as NHL Drafted D-man Justin Schultz has returned to the Valley. Schultz leads his team in points per game with 4 goals and 16 assists in 18 games played (impressive numbers for a rearguard). The Warriors also have suffered a roster subtraction this week as 17-year-old F Brett Lyon signed with the Kamloops Blazers after the Vancouver Giants traded his Major Junior rights. Lyon was an AP with the Vees last season and had 47 PIM in 19 games with the Warriors.

It’s shaping up to be a fantastic game with a hungry Vees team looking for redemption. The Vees will have 4 or 5 (depending on Slemp) new forwards in the line-up that were absent in the 5-2 loss last weekend. Puck Drop is 7PM from Royal LePage Place, 6:45 Pre-Game Show on EZ Rock AM 800.

***UPDATE***

It appears that Erik Slemp will play tonight after a long travel day, making tonight the Vees debut for he and Adam Zamec.

Fred Harbinson made waves today sending F Anthony Perdicaro to the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL for the rights to F Erik Slemp.

Slemp is 18-years-old and is committed to University of Alaska Fairbanks (NCAA). Slemp recorded a goal and an assist last night against the Calgary Canucks in his final game as a Dragon.

Perdicaro, who is 19 years of age, played Major Junior in the OHL and the QMJHL before joining the Vees after the Christmas break last season. Anthony recorded 7 goals and 17 points in 22 games with the Vees this season.

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A smiling and settled Adam Zamec spoke with the Vees Blog Tuesday. Safe to say the 19-year-old forward is happy to be in Penticton alongside some familiar faces.

Here’s are the numbers on Zamec (who is on the left).

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Tonight featured Fred Harbinson in studio, weekend highlights, the latest Interior Conference Power Rankings, 3-Star standings, Rock Hard Hit leaders, SOEC GM Curtis Webb, Len Barrie, Alumni Updates and more!

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Jordan White was smiling ear to ear in the Nichola Valley Arena. Come to think of it, so were Murray Maxwell and Al Formo - who represented the only present links to Jordan’s last stint in Penticton 3 years ago.

Just after midnight in the wee Sunday morning hours Jordan was acquired in a 5-team, 8-player deal that involved the Merritt Centennials, the Cowichan Valley Capitals and a team in both the AJHL and the MJHL. The Vees surrender 20-year-old Camrose native David Andreassen (off to the AJHL) and 19-year-old rookie Goaltender Anthony Borelli (to the MJHL) in the dizzying exchange.

But, while the addition of White most certainly improves the strength of the Vees club, the club looked plenty weak on the ice in an embarrassing 4-1 loss in Merritt where the visitor seemed to feign interest and lacked any sort of intensity.

Sean Bonar got the start for the second straight game (that likely won’t be happening much anymore), as White worked the gate on the Vees bench in his ‘08 Vees debut. Odds are strong the easy-going former Portland Winter Hawk will start Wednesday in Powell River - the second of five games for the Vees on this eight day road trip. Perhaps we’ll see glimpses of why Al and Murray were so happy today!

Here’s my conversation with Jordan today prior to the game with the Cents.

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When you win Penticton’s first Junior ‘A’ Championship in 22 years, people remember you. Last Season’s Vees were a special group, and with most Canadian & American Univeristy Hockey Programs getting underway last weekend, lets take a look at the 07/08 Roster!

Returning to the Vees:

Denver Manderson, Devon Krogh, Zack Josepher, Mitch Labreche, Curtis McKenzie, Nathan Westover, Anthony Perdicaro, Elias Grossmann.

CJAHL Junior ‘A’:

Bryan Mountain (Portage Terriers of the MJHL) - leads the MJHL in GAA and has a perfect (8-0-0) record.

Vinny Muchalla (Winkler Flyers of the MJHL) - 3GP 2G 2A 4PTS 17 PIM

Major Junior:

James Bettauer (Chilliwack Bruins of the WHL) - 9GP 1G 0A 1PTS (-2) 2 PIM

Canadian University (CIS):

Nic Knudsen (Concordia University Stingers (Montreal, QC) of the OUA) - 1GP 0G 0A 0PTS (-1) 2 PIM

American College (NCAA):

Trevor Nill (Michigan State Spartans of the CCHA) - 2GP 0G 1A 1PTS 0 PIM

Zac Dalpe (Ohio State Buckeyes of the CCHA) - 2GP 0G 0A 0PTS 2 PIM (he did score in a shoot out though!)

Cory Schneider (Ohio State Buckeyes of the CCHA) - 2GP 0G 0A 0PTS 0 PIM

Austin Smith (Colgate Raiders of the ECAC) 1GP 0G 1A 1PTS 0 PIM

Alex Evin (Colgate Raiders of the ECAC) 0GP - (3 Goalies fighting for icetime and just 1 GP)

Eric Kroshus (Harvard Crimson of the ECAC) - Team hasn’t played yet.

Brett Hextall (North Dakota Fighting Sioux of the WCHA) - 2GP 0G 0A 0PTS 2 PIM (did score in pre-season though!)

Michael Guzzo (Curry Colonels of the ECAC Northeast DIV III) - Team hasn’t played yet.

Germany DIV 2 (ESBG):

Michael Hengen (Fischtown Pinguins) - 6GP 0G 1A 1PTS 0 PIM

Other

Kyle McMurphy and Ryan Wagner have hung up the blades for the season.

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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Or something like that!

Recently acquired defender Nick Goyens chats with us about his early BCHL experiences. The bi-lingual Montrealer has played 150+ games in the QMJHL and made his Vees debut Saturday Night at the S.O.E.C.

Here is a look at Nick’s Junior Hockey Passport!

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A very good team may be getting better.

Fred Harbinson announced today that Denver Manderson has returned to the Penticton and could be suiting up for the Vees for the remainder of the 08-09 season.

The team will wait for Manderson to officially become available, as his rights are still owned by the Kitchener Rangers.

Coach and GM Harbinson was clear in stating that the team will follow Hockey Canada protocol and that Manderson’s return to the Vees line-up won’t happen until that process has been completed.

Manderson tallied 52 points in an injury plagued season that saw him play 31 games for the Vees last season. The 19-year-old Furgus, ON native was awarded the Robert Skinner Award of Courage last season at the conclusion of the 07-08 season. ‘Mandy’ recorded 19 points in 15 BCHL post-season games playing through injury and helping the Vees to the clubs 1st Fred Page Cup championship in 22 years.

Manderson was tied for 3rd in the BCHL with 1.7 points per game in the BCHL last season.

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Here is Fred Harbinson on today’s practice, the Northern weekend and how the roster looks through 4 games.

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