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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The Vernon Vipers are now ranked 4th in the nation in the latest CJHL Top 15.

The Vipers slide past Salmon Arm as the top ranked team in the BCHL after beating the Silverbacks 2-0 on Saturday Night in Vernon. The Silverbacks dropped to 6th following the first game all season they have been shut-out in.

Also earning ‘Honourable Mentions’ from the BCHL this week are The Lower Mainland Division leading Powell River Kings, and Island Division leading Victoria Grizzlies.

The top ranked team in the country are the defending RBC Cup Champion Humbolt Broncos (SJHL), while Spruce Grove (AJHL) are slotted 2nd and the Winnipeg Saints (MJHL) are 3rd.

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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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.

Fred Harbinson opened a pair of roster spots today.

Disgruntled 20-year-old forward Vinny Muchalla was shipped to the Winkler Flyers of the MJHL (Jr. ‘A’) for future considerations. Muchalla had asked to be moved so he could enjoy a larger role in his final season of Junior. Winkler should provide that opportunity for Vinny.

Also, rookie D-man Rajan Sidhu was returned to the Richmond Sockeyes of the PIJHL (Jr. ‘B’). Sidhu wasn’t going to be playing much with the recent acquisition of Nick Goyens, and it didn’t help that he had been outplayed by fellow rookie blue-liner Colton Jobke. Yet, at just 17-years of age the future is still bright for Sidhu, who sports Ivy-league grades and now will have oodles of ice-time to develop as a player.

The Vees currently have 12 Forwards, 7 D-men, 2 Goalies, and a pair of empty roster spots.

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