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.
Despite being just 4 points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand, the Williams Lake Timberwolves have fired Head Coach Dave Dupas. Working with what is essentially a Junior ‘B’ all-star team from last season (just 4 players are NOT rookies), Dupas had his club playing beyond expectations of many… Clearly not that of his ownership though.
In my opinion this team is out skilled, and wasn’t out worked… That’s not the fault of the coach.
VEES THIS WEEK
Join us tonight on Boston Pizza Vees This Week for feedback from the Vees three medalists from the WJAC in PEI. Also we’ll hear from Dave Sales from the league office Bruce Judd of Penticton Minor Hockey(better audio quality), catch up with some alumni who set accomplished some firsts in the NCAA, check in with the Interior Conferenece Power Rankings, hear highlights of the weekend home-and-home against Langley, and much more Vees yammering.
Join us from 6:05 to 7:00 on EZ Rock AM 800 or MyEZRock.com.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Vees and Vipers are back into the top three in the weekly CJHL National Rankings. Spruce Grove (AJHL) is #1, the Vipers #2, and the Vees are #3 as Dauphin and Kingston are dropped. Coastal leading Surrey Eagles are in at #9 and also garnering attention from the BCHL are Alberni Valley Bulldogs who beat Surrey in OT on Saturday.
We’ll catch up with Sean Bonar from Summerside, PEI following a Canada West 2-1 loss to the Russians on Sunday, also Interior Conference Power Rankings, News and Notes, Fred on Central Scouting’s swing and a miss, and the weekly staples like weekend highlights, the best answering machine in Penticton and our featured intermission conversation of the week.
Tune in from 6:05 to 7:00 on EZ Rock AM 800, MyEZRock.com, or wait until the show is posted on Monday night right here on the Vees Blog.
To illustrate the lack of logic in the CJHL rankings take a closer look at the Vernon Vipers… Since being ranked #1 in the nation, the Vipers have beat the #2 team in the country (which was Penticton at the time), have won 9 consecutive games, have outscored opponents 63-14 over that margin, and yet have fallen to fourth in the country. They’ve lost once since April the 10th playing in the top Junior ‘A’ league in the country.
Why has Vernon fallen from #1??
WJAC UPDATE
With Team Canada West and the USA both 0-1 in the round robin, both have a day off to prepare for Tuesday tilts. The Americans face the Belorussians and the Western boys will face the Swedes - who lost to Russia 3-2 in a shootout earlier today. The Russians advance to Friday’s Semi-Finals with the win having won ‘Group A’.
For more WJAC coverage check out the local fish-wrap in Summerside: the Journal Pioneer
Sean Bonar and Joey LaLeggia are off to PEI today with the rest of Team Canada West for the 2009 World Jr. A Challenge. Team Canada West has 2 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal in the three years that the competition has been in existance… no pressure guys.
Beau Bennett will leave on Wednesday to join Team USA who are the reigning gold medalists.
with Sean Bonar gone to PEI, Billy Faust returns to Penticton today to join the Vees for their next four games. The odd man out in the crease at training camp, Billy has been playing with the Nelson Leafs of the KIJHL, where he 5 wins, a shutout and a GAA of 2.14. Billy and Beau Bennett both played for the LA Jr. Kings (Midget) last year and have come to BC to further their hockey careers. Expect Billy to start at least one of the next four games for the Vees.
DRAFT HYPE
Central Scouting’s NHL watch list has been released and 5 BCHLer have made the preliminary list. While 5 player isn’t a whopping number for the whole league, the fact that the Vees have 3 of the 5 players is an incredible feat.
Beau Bennett has been graded a B prospect, while defenders Luke Curadi and Joey LaLeggia are rated C prospects. Other BCHLers mentioned include Westside Warriors forward Greyson Downing and Langley Chiefs defender Tim Daly.
Central Scoutings give players a grade in the ‘Watch List’, then will release a ‘Mid-Term Rankings’ in January before ‘Final Rankings’ are issued in April.
Speaking with numerous hockey people who know more than I do over the past week, Sean Bonar, and Isaac MacLeod are also garnering all sorts of attention from NHL scouts.
VEES THIS WEEK
We’re back on the air-waves on EZ Rock tonight as Boston Pizza Vees This Week is back after a ‘bye’ week. We’ll chat with Eddie Gregory of the Burnaby Express to preview Friday’s tilt at the SOEC, also new Interior Confernece Power Rankings, Weekend Highlights, a chat with Fred Harbinson after sweeping the Island, and other shenanigans.
CJHL NATIONAL RANKINGS & OTHER NON-SENSE
The Vees fell a spot to fifth in the CJHL National Rankings while Vernon remains at 3rd in the nation. The Kingston Voyageurs (OJAHL) and Dauphin Kings (MJHL) who play in vastly weaker leagues than the BCHL are listed in the top four.
Again, I’ll mention the need for more transparancy in the process of ranking teams from coast to caost. If there is a formula, what is it!?? Is there a ouija board quotient?!
Not much rust on the Vees. That’s the consensus after a 3-1 Vees victory over the Victoria Grizzlies in Penticton’s first game since October 10th.
The Vees opened their four-game Island road swing with a win in the provincial capital on Wednesday and in the process closed out the first quarter of the season with a sparkling record of 12-2-0-1.
Denver Manderson recorded his 13th goal of the season, set up by a nifty play from Beau Bennett as the Vees opened the scoring 4-on-4. Just eight seconds later, still 4-on-4, Garrett Milan made it 2-0 with his tenth of the season, when Jake Johnson spotted him alone in front. Johnson now has 3 points in as many games for the Vees since arriving from the USHL.
Alex Szczechura continues his strong rookie campaign as the 19-year-old added his eighth goal of the year to put the Vees up 3-1. Beau Bennett, Byron Sorensen, Joey Holka, Jake Johnson and Isaac MacLeod all had an assist in the game.
Sean Bonar allowed a single goal as the Vees continued their stingy defensive play in October. The team has allowed just six goals in six games in the Halloween month. Bonar now has nine wins on the year and lowered his goals against average to 2.11 while boosting his save percentage to .930
Brandon Fagerheim and Wesley Myron had assists on captain Jordan Heywood’s goal in the loss for the hosts. Richard Virtanen made 28 saves on 31 shots, and absorbed his fifth loss of the season.
Neither team scored on the power play as the Vees killed three penalties and the Grizzlies killed four. The Vees haven’t allowed a power play goal against since September 29th in Merritt.
The Vees now sit in second in the Interior Conference five points behind the Vernon Vipers with a game in hand. The two Okanagan teams have the top two records in The BCHL and are both ranked in the top 4 in the country.
Next Vees action comes from Cowichan Valley on Friday night at 7:30 when they face Capitals in the first of three games in 24 hours. The Pre-game show starts at 7:15 on EZ Rock AM 800, and myezrock.com
While you were watching Monday Night Football or perhaps a 5-goal colapse from the Calgary Flames on Monday night, Murray Maxwell and I were in the EZ Rock studios for the weekly show.
On the program tonight, Interior Conference Power Rankings, Vees Thanksgiving traditions, golf tips with Evan Hammond of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, an alumni NCAA update, a look back at the history of Jr. hockey in Penticton with Al Formo, and highlights of the week that was.
Enjoy your last show for a few weeks, as there won’t be a show next Monday.
Join Fred Harbinson and myself Ryan Pinder for Coach’s Corner at the Kettle Valley Station Pub at the Ramada tonight from 6 until 7.
After a 6-1 drubbing of the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Wednesday and on the eve of a battle between the top two teams in Canada with Vernon coming to the SOEC on Friday, there will be lots to talk about for the Vees head coach.
The Vees currently lead the BCHL with 20 points in 12 games and are ranked #2 in Canada, while the Vipers are ranked #1, have 8 wins and a single loss for the top winning percentage in the BCHL. The Vees shutout Vernon on Saturday and are looking to gain some breathing room in the Interior Conference.
‘Coach’s Corner’ runs from 6-7 and is open to the public and media alike.
Free beer and pizza for the media, and the best question for the Coach from the audience wins a pair of tickets to Friday’s game with Vernon.
We’ll Meet at 6:00 and get the hockey talk started at soon after! Food. Drink. Hockey Talk. Life is good!
****UPDATE****
Live audio available below. Thanks to all that attended!
It was another game at the South Okanagan Events Centre, and another win for the Interior Conference leading Penticton Vees on Wednesday.
The Vees now have five wins in as many attempts on home ice after a 6-1 defeat of the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Denver Manderson added 3 assists to move his league-leading total to 31 points and stretch his streak to twelve games with at least a point. Fifteen Vees recorded a point on Wednesday as the Vees got goals from 6 different scorers, included Adam Zamec who made his season debut after off-season surgery.
Sean Bonar was stellar in the crease for the Vees allowing just a single goal to Shaun Mueller, which caromed in off a defender’s skate. Bonar stopped 27 of 28 shots for his league leading eighth victory of the season.
Newly acquired goalie Alexandre Peck allowed four goals on 23 shots in 40 minutes of work, while 15-year-old rookie Laurent Brossoit allowed two goals in a relief stint in the third period.
Beau Bennett notched his ninth of the year, but his first of the season at even strength. Bennett is tied for second spot in BCHL goal scoring. Other Vees snipers on the night included Logan Johnston, Matt Paltridge, and Ben Sexton each getting their second goals of the year and Garrett Milan deflecting in his 6th of the year.
The Vees power play was back at it tonight going 3/6 with the man advantage, while the penalty kill negated all five minor penalties. The Vees have now killed off sixteen consecutive advantages for their opponents over four games.
The Vees now sit at 10-2-0-0 on the year, while the Capitals are dropped to 3-6-0-1 with games against Trail, Westside, and Vernon in the next 3 days.
Penticton hosts Vernon on Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre after stopping the Vipers 22 game run of consecutive victories last weekend. The Vipers are the top ranked team in Canada, while the Vees are listed in second slot.
Vees tickets can be purchased at the SOEC box office or at ‘ValleyFirstTix.com’. EZ Rock Broadcasts starts at 6:45.
Fixtures: The Interior conference power rankings, game highlights, BCHL news, and Murray’s answering Machine.
Also, we catch up on Robert Skinner’s whereabouts with Rob Facca of Northern Michigan, meet Californian rookie sensation Beau Bennett, and talk with HC/GM Fred Harbinson after a big win over Vernon.
******** Sorry for the late posting. In related news, the Barley Mill Canucks suffered a disheartening loss on Monday…
