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…)
Great to see over 2000 fans at the SOEC last night. Though the game was certainly not ‘wide-open’ (it never is with Vernon’s emphasis on defense), you could see that the skill level was very high on both sides of the ice. Both teams had a fair amount of quality chances (the Vees hit two posts and Trupp missed a yawning cage, and Bonar made multiple big stops on redirected Vernon shots) and those in attendance weren’t disappointed with the quality of hockey and were treated to an extra period.
Denver Manderson’s season long point streak was halted at 12 games. The Vees captain had a glorious chance to stretch his productive run to 13 games in the first period, but could not convert.
Dylan Walchuk impressed me immensely last night. Just 17-years-old and in his first year of Jr. ‘A’, Dylan was noticeable every time he stepped on the ice. Northern Michigan has found a good one in Walchuk.
A note on the three star selection process - we in the broadcast booth (Chad Campbell, Al Formo and myself) are given a sheet to fill out with 3 minutes left in the game. Last night it was tied 1-1 when we had to select the stars. Certainly if we had named the stars following the game’s finish Rob Short would have been on the list and the Vipers would have had two of three stars. It’s not an easy thing to do while you are trying to broadcast a game, never mind when the game’s outcome hasn’t been determined yet, and we probably look a touch silly today because of it.
We called Rob Short a ‘Vees killer’ in the pre-game show last night and in his first game back from injury he certainly lived up to the billing as his OT shot bounced in off a sprawling Vees defender in front of Bonar. ‘Bones’ has allowed just 3 goals in his last 3 games (182 minutes and 30 seconds) and two have banked in off defenders.
Jake Johnson had a heck of a debut for the Vees, as he was full speed all night long and looked very comfy in his new surroundings. His shot off the crossbar in the third period was a laser!
These two clubs won’t meet again until December, I can’t wait!
CENTENNIALS VISIT VEES TONIGHT
Expect a change of pace with the Merritt Centennials in town tonight. While the Vipers have surrendered less than two points a game to their opponents the Cents haven’t been nearly as stingy. Merritt has allowed over 5 goals a game and are tied with Trail as the easiest team to score against in the BCHL.
The Vees lost 5-4 in Merritt two weeks ago with Ben Sexton, Sean Bonar, Garrett Milan, and Joey LaLeggia absent from the contest.
The Vees have killed off 18 consecutive penalties taken heading into tonight’s action and are up to 78% on the year.
Joel Rumpel gets the nod tonight for the Vees. The rookie net-minder’s only loss came in Merritt on the 29th of September, where Joel had a less than stellar outing.
The Vees have ten days with no hockey after tonight’s home game. The Vees next action is on the 21st of October in Victoria, as they make their trip only to Vancouver Island all season. Anything but two points tonight would leave a bitter taste in the mouth and too much time to look in the mirror… Not the best use of a break in the schedule.
THANKSGIVING
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all who have stopped by the Vees Blog. While I’ll miss the big bird with the family in Calgary this weekend, I’m heading back to the City of Cow on Tuesday for some quality time with the fam.
All the best to you and yours on Thanksgiving, as Vees fans we certainly have been treated to quite an opening of the season. Be with the ones you love and enjoy the stuffing, gravy and pumpkin pie!
For the Vees Thanksgiving traditions be sure to tune into ‘Boston Pizza Vees This Week’ on Monday night, as we find out what’s on the dinner table around across the country at the homes of the Vees. It’s mouthwatering radio!
* The Vees and the Vipers are 1-2 in today’s release of the CJHL national rankings. Vernon has been sitting in top spot all season (and beyond), while the Vees got an honourable mention in week one, were moved up to 6th in week two, continued to rise to 3rd in week 3 and now are one back of their hated rivals. The Okanagan rivals will play on Friday in Penticton at the SOEC. If you like hockey, I trust you’ll be in attendance. This is an early candidate for game of the year. ValleyFirstTix.com or the SOEC box office for tickets.
* Goaltender Josh Watson (90) of the Powell River Kings has been named the BCHL ‘Player of the Week. The import net-minder was spectacular this week going (4-0-0) with two clean sheets, helping the Kings claim sole possession of first place in the Coastal Conference.
Week two ‘P.O.W.’ F - Mark Zengerle (89) had another monster weekend, this time posting 4 goals, 9 assists, and 13 points in 3 games played. That’s over 4 points a game! Zengerle now sits just 2 points back of Denver Manderson in the BCHL scoring race.
* The Nanaimo Clippers aren’t the power house they once were. After four consecutive seasons with the BCHL’s best record in the regular season (from 04/05 until 07/08) the Clippers finished ninth overall last year and are struggling early this year in a wide open Coastal Conference. The Clippers were shutout on Friday and Saturday and now sit in the basement of the Coastal Conference. To add salt to the wound on Friday Night former Clippers assistant Nolan Graham bested Bill Bestwick’s Clippers in a classic case of the student beating his professor.
The Clippers have not won at home yet this year, they are the only BCHL team that hasn’t. It’s not that Nanaimo is a bad club, it’s just that they haven’t been able to win close games. The Clippers have lost six one goal games this year, three of those in OT. The Clippers goal differential is just minus - 4.
* The Penticton Vees accomplished something that hadn’t been done since April 10th on Saturday, as the Blue Black and White handed Vernon their first loss in 22 games. The Vipers were previously unbeaten in seven regular season contests, four pre-season matches, didn’t lose at the RBC Cup (National Championship round robin and playoffs) in Victoria, swept the AJHL champion Grande Prairie Storm, and then of course won game six of the BCHL final against Powell River (wow).
The Vipers were not shutout once last year. Sean Bonar is the first net-minder to hold Vernon off the score sheet since former Vees puckstopper Alex Evin (seen above facing Vernon in Memorial Arena) did it on March 8th of 2008, in the second round of the playoffs (the Vees won the Fred Page Cup that season).
For more game reaction from Saturday’s game as well as all other Vipers news head to the Vipers Die Hard Fan Blog.
Musical goalies continue in Merritt as well as they’ve added a WHL cut to their squad. Also the club shipped Tyler Miller to his home town of Prince George after being dropped by the WHL’s Cougars ($10 say he never even left town). Brian Wiebe has the latest and thinks there’s more in the works as well.
* After opening the season undefeated in regulation through their first six games, the Burnaby Express have found out how difficult wins are to earn in the Interior. After a 7-2 spanking in Salmon Arm on Friday, the pain train’s next stop was Trail were the Smokies earned just their second win of the year in a 5-4 OT triumph. Making matters worse was a 4-2 Sunday loss in Vernon for the club’s third defeat in 48 hours. With just a single point earned from a possible six, the Express have been dumped off their throne and are now right back in the pack in the Coastal Conference.
* A couple great games with ramifications on Interior Conference standings go down Tuesday night in the BCHL. In the Caribou the Quesnel Millionaires visit the Prince George Spruce Kings for the second time this year. Quesnel won round one by a 4-1 score, and are a single point up on their rivals from PG for fifth in the Interior Conference.
Also, Trail visits Merritt for the second time this year (the sight of their season-opening loss), with both clubs playing much better hockey than they were just two weeks ago. The Smokies have points in 3 of 4 games, while the Cents beat Penticton last week and nearly beat Westside on Sunday. Seeds five through nine are looking pretty jumbled right now in the Interior, but we may have a clearer picture come Wednesday.
After a three day audition for Team Canada West in Okotoks, Garrett Milan, Sean Bonar and Joey LaLeggia are back in the Peach City, and the Vees couldn’t be happier about their attendance in the locker room.
LaLeggia, Bonar and Milan will be back in the line-up on Friday
One day after a humbling 5-4 loss to the Merritt Centennials, one is inclined to feel Milan, LaLeggia, and Bonar seem to be more valuable than they were just days ago. While the results of their tryout for the Western Canadian entry to the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge isn’t yet, known, the results for the Vees with a short bench are all too apparent.
The Vees have two losses through nine games on the year (7-2-0-0), yet Garrett Milan hasn’t been on the ice for either! Neither has Ben Sexton, for that matter, who compounded the Vees short labour supply last night, as he was sidelined with flu like symptoms.
In fact, the Vees have only played three games this year with what can be considered a ‘full’ compliment of players so far, if you overlook Adam Zamec’s pending return from off-season surgery. Right out of the gate Isaac MacLeod was absent for the first three games up North. Then after a Saturday Night game in PG that featured a near line brawl, the Vees lost 6 man-games to suspension with NCAA committed Szczechura, Sexton and Milan banished for a pair each. Then last night Team Canada West’s ‘evaluation camp’ for the World Jr. A Challenge robbed the Vees from anything resembling a full roster.
Give Merritt credit for a gusty win that saw them erase a 4-2 deficit in the last half of the contest, but the Vees were missing four impact players from their line-up who will all play College Hockey in the next few years.
One final note on this ‘evaluation camp’. Team Canada East also had a try-out style camp to help craft their roster, but it was held before the season started. I for one hope Team Canada West follows suit next year so as to limit the loss of impact players from regular season play. Last year the Vees missed the 3rd seed in the playoffs by losing a tie-breaker. With points at such a premium in the Interior Conference, the loss of a player (nevermind three) for anything short of the WJAC event itself seems a touch unnecessary.
I caught up with Garrett Milan, Sean Bonar and Joey LaLeggia after the team’s workout today…
Veterans Forwards Mitch Lebreche (Powell River Kings, BCHL) and Erik Slemp (Camrose Kodiaks, AJHL) were moved with the log-jam of talented forwards. Jeff Johnson has gone back to the Maritimes, and Mike Bosco has headed back to the US after unsuccessful bids to make the club. Steve Iacobellis is back to the Vancouver Major Midget Giants after an impressive pre-season. J.C. Lirette has yet to suit up for the Vees, after being acquired for L.P. Boucher. Mitch Jones earned a spot as a versatile player, as he plays both forward and defense. Adam Zamec has also not played a game yet this year as he is recovering from injury.
DEFENDERS
Bo Dolan
A very talented group though perhaps a touch raw, this was a tough group to crack. Bob Pond will likely surface in Junior A soon, but didn’t do enough to steal one of the 7 roster spots. Bo Dolan was the surprise of the pre-season to me as his well rounded game (hits, skates, fights, distributes) earned him a spot despite being an import. Mitch Jones (as mentioned above) will play on the back end when injuries and scheduling provide him that opportunity. Isaac MacLeod has yet to suit up in game play but is practicing with the team as he recovers from injury.
GOALIES
Billy Faust
Billy Faust was the odd man out after a hard fought battle with Joel Rumpel for the right to back up Sean Bonar. Faust will play for the Nelson Leafs this year with designs on playing a ton and being the man here in Penticton next season. The Leafs have a great history of turning out solid Junior net-minders such as Grant Rollheisier (who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008) with Bill McDonnell as their goaltending coach. Bonar has yet to play this season, but is ready for game action.
I spoke with Curtis today on the phone and he said he’s still intent on going to college, but wasn’t going to shut down any dialogue with the Rebels. If Curtis gets a chance to talk to Brent Sutter, maybe he can ask why the Flames drafted Spencer Bennett of the Surrey Eagles over him in June’s Entry Draft, as that seemed to boggle some minds in BCHL circles.
In other hockey news…
* Colorado draft pick Matt Duchene must be out of soap… don’t believe me? Check out his dirty hands caught on film at the World Junior Camp in Calgary Saskatoon. If he’s not in Colorado I’d be shocked, but dang, if he’s in Saskatchewan over X-mas Holidays that would be quite a gift for Canadian hockey fans.
* In Garrett Milan sized news, Darren Dregger of TSN is reporting that 41-year-old Theo Fleury is planning a return to the NHL. Fleury claims he’s been sober for four years. He must have been inspired by Claude Lemieux’s comeback last season. One day Theo’s jersey will be in the rafters of the SutterSaddledome, but until then he could certainly sell tickets in Abbotsford and maybe even help the Flames who are lacking offensive weapons after losing Bertuzzi and Cammalleri from last season’s squad… hmmmm.
Call me crazy, but I was really pulling for an upset of one of the four teams that earned byes through regular season play. Unless an underdog has us all sucked in for a Hollywood come-from-behind victory, with all series being led 3-1 by the favorites who are heading home for Game 5, the second round best-of-seven series look all but done.
On the mainland few gave Surrey a chance against a veteran Powell River club that employs six 20-year-old and the most dangerous Power Play seen in the BCHL since Williams Lake ripped up the 05-06 campaign with the extra man. The scouting report has been spot on. The Kings have outscored the Eagles 19-2. NOT EVEN CLOSE!
On the Isle-of-Van, the Grizzlies have proved superior to the Capitals after stumbling in Game 1 at Bear Mountain (sounds like a ride at Disneyland, doesn’t it). The Grizzlies seem the more complete club, out-chancing and outscoring the gritty Caps since Game 1. This series still has potential to go the distance, but Chris Rawlings will have to live up to the title of BCHL’s best goalie, some critics were crowning him with. Right now Anthony Grieco has the tidy numbers!
The Warriors were a club that came into the post season on quite a roll. Injuries have depleated a blue collar club that has (or should I say had?) one of the best D-corps in the league. Justin Schultz’s injury plagued season has stretched into the playoffs, as the smooth skating stud, was absent for Games 1 & 2 vs. Salmon Arm and had spot duty in Game 3 as a Power Play specialist. Also dinged is Kevin Jebson who may be gone for the remainder of the 2nd Round after being spotted on crutches following a Game 2 injury. Give Salmon Arm credit, they’ve shown more than one dimension this post-season.
Roger Tepper, Edge Photography, No copies or reproduction without permission. EdgePhoto(at)telus.net
The Vees and Vipers have played two tight games and two blow-outs, Vernon has won 3 games. The Snakes talk about their youth, but the Vipers have just 1 player 16 or 17 years of age in the line-up compared to the Vees half dozen ’91s and ’92s that are all playing major roles. The Vees top three scorers are 16 or 17, while the veterans have been less than impressive. The Vipers have proved deeper, meaner and stronger. The Vees have scored just 3 goals 5-on-5 (YIKES)!
Last year the final four were all bye rested clubs, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.
Hats off to the Prince George Spruce Kings for their valiant efforts and a fantastic series of hockey over the past 6 days. Though the Vees move on to face Vernon Friday Night, the Caribou club can be proud of the play and the successes they enjoyed against the Vees.
20-year-olds Matt Lees, Zach Davies, Vinny Muchalla, Jordan Simpson and Brandon Busse closed out their Jr. careers with class and nearly led the underdog club to an improbable round 1 victory.
Ed Dempsey’s club was as cagey and prepared each night as they could have been. The top line assembled by the Kings (S. Muchalla, Ambroise, Pickering) nearly upset a more talented Penticton team with an epic home performance in Games 3 & 4.
With Zach Davies gone Sam Muchalla will likely step in as captain of this club next season. Expect big things from the darty forward in his 19-year-old season.
PENTICTON @ VERNON
Get Angry! One of the longest and nastiest hockey rivalries in BC will add a new chapter over the next 2 weeks. The Vees and Vipers played a classic 7-Game series last season which the Vees won and translated into their first title in 22 years.
This season the Vipers are the bye rested top seed and the Vees the surging underdog.
The hate has been on since 1951 and won’t be stopping any time soon!
Games 1 & 2 run Friday from the Wesbild Centre in Vernon. Games 3 & 4 are Tuesday and Wednesday in Penticton.
ValleyFirstTix.com or the SOEC Boxoffice to get your seats to what is shaping up to be a battle for the ages.
Weird to be talking about the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on the opening day of the playoffs, but there are some news items regarding the BCHL’s 2-year Island Doormat.
Nothing too spicy here. Just lots of talk about turning the program around, finding their new Head Coach and GM, and Port Alberni being a hockey hotbed.
Some unusual comments were made Perrier in the statement:
Regarding their dreadful early-season play:
“Circumstances outside my control continually drained on everything from team unity to the way our team played. I was never able to put my stamp on the team in a role of head coach. This included game plans, line-ups, leadership issues, ice time, and the way certain players were used.”
Perrier says he then approached ownership about giving him full control of the club, which they granted. He talks about team improvement:
“…for the first time in 2 years players were finally rewarded for efforts. As a coach, I was finally able to coach and manage the way I wanted to”
He goes on to say:
“It was the way it should have been since day one. Despite some systemic issues I have no bitterness towards anyone…”
In closing he states:
“My deepest regret is that I could not have given the players and fans the same type of environment in the Fall, that we were able to give you from November on, You deserved it”
YIKES!
Whether the ’systemic issues’ have anything to do with the OHA, or not, I don’t know. But I do know that those types of statements made by a former employee of both the OHA and the Bulldogs make for horrendous optics as the OHA is the majority owner of the Bulldogs.
One wonders how a hockey school can run a BCHL franchise while managing conflicts of interest between the two entities.
So while Coach Perrier will wear the goat horns in 08/09 and won’t be back for 09/10, can we say the same thing about the alleged ’systemic issues’?
The man they call ‘Hammer’ is as entertaining as they come, and is a huge booster of BCHL hockey on the Island. His blogging, morning show hosting on ‘The Peak’ in Port Alberni, weekly BCHL talk-show, and game broadcasts are a big reason why the Bulldogs are as adored as they are.
With the Awards Banquet this Thursday Night at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, and our Awards preview Vees This Week Show coming Monday, now is a good time to quiz the masses who should be the MVP.
Denver Manderson, when in the line-up has been the MVP, the only problem is that he only managed to suit up for 35 games in a Vees uniform this season after starting the year in the OHL and getting injured in late January.
Curtis MacKenzie has been ‘Mr. Everything’ for the Vees, scoring, fighting & playing physical while earning an ‘A’ and then a ‘C’ through the year. Is he the MVP?
Garrett Milan has steadily improved to the point where he now has a shot at winning the scoring title for the club as a 17-year-old, 140 pound rookie. Amazing.
All other members of the team are long shots as a lack of consistancy or a late arrival to Penticton hampers many of the other candidates.
