vees:blog

Weekend NCAA highlights include Cory Schneider posting his first two-point NCAA game for Ohio State, Maine captain Tanner House notching a pair in his first weekend back from injury, Steve Cameron and Cody Collins leading Mercyhurst to a pair of wins, and a monster 3-point game from Alex MacLeod for Michigan Tech.

Tanner House crashes the net for the Maine Black Bears

Brennan Barker D (SR, Alabama-Huntsville) - 6GP 0-2-2 6PIM

Anthony Borelli G (FR, Brown) - Season Not Underway

Steve Cameron F (JR, Mercyhurst) - 6GP 3-1-4 2PIM

Cody Collins F (SR, Mercyhurst) - 6GP 1-1-2 0PIM

Deron Cousens D (JR, Michigan Tech) - 4GP 1-1-2 6PIM

Zac Dalpe F (SO, Ohio State) - 5GP 1-3-4 0PIM

Alex Evin G (SO, Colgate) - 3GP (1-1-1) 2.64 .911

Brett Hextall F (SO, North Dakota) - 6GP 2-0-2 18PIM

Tanner House F (JR, Maine) - 2GP 2-0-2 2PIM

Zack Josepher D (FR, Michigan State) - 6GP 2-2-4 2PIM

Devon Krogh D (FR, Ohio State) - 4GP 0-1-1 0PIM

Eric Kroshus F (SO, Harvard) - Season Not Underway

Justin Krueger D (SR, Cornell) - Season Not Underway

Brian Lebler F (SR, Michigan) - 4GP 1-1-2 6PIM

Alex MacLeod F (SO, Michigan Tech) - 4GP 1-2-3 2PIM

Bryant Molle D (JR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 4GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Curtis McKenzie F (FR, Miami-Ohio) - 6GP 2-3-5 12PIM

Cory Milan G (JR, Union) - 5GP (3-1-1) 2.29 .920

TJ Miller D (SR, Northern Michigan) - 4GP 0-0-0 2PIM

Trevor Nill F (SO, Michigan State) - 5GP 0-0-0 8PIM

Bryan Mountain G (FR, Northeastern) - NO STARTS

Kaare Odegard D (FR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 3GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Travis Ouellette F (FR, Ferris State) - 5GP 2-0-2 2PIM

Cory Schneider F (SO, Ohio State)- 5GP 0-2-2 0PIM

Austin Smith F (SO, Colgate) - 5GP 2-1-3 4PIM

Evan Trupp F (JR, North Dakota) - 6GP 1-4-5 2PIM

Brent Vandenberg F (FR, Niagara) - 3GP 1-0-1 2PIM

Made in Penticton but residing in Duncan, the Vees will see the world’s largest hockey stick tonight

* The Vees wrap up their 2-game season series with the Cowichan Valley Capitals today in Duncan. Penticton pumped Cowichan 6-1 on October the 7th as captain Denver Manderson record 3 assists.

The Caps are (2-0-0-0) under new head coach and former NHL tough-guy Dale Purinton, and have got Anthony Perdicaro back from the East Coast Hockey League. Perdicaro received a Gross Misconduct in his first game back and will not be in the Cowichan line-up tonight.

* In NCAA action this weekend Curtis McKenzie’s hot start with the top ranked Miami Redhawks will see the freshman forward face two former teammates at Michigan State. Zack Joesepher and Trevor Nill currently play for the Spartans and both played with Curtis during the 2008 BCHL Championship season. Here’s a preview of the Division I clash.

* It appears the Clippers and Grizzlies have swung a deal. Hammer tells us the deal sees D - Jake Baker (91) go to Victoria for F - Teal Burns (92) and D - Todd Gebert (90). That’s the third team for Jake Baker and we are just at the quarter poll of the season.

* The Merritt Centennials have added a few bodies to their roster as F - Andrew MacMillan (90) is over his mono and Cameron Dagg is yanked up from Columbia Valley of the KIJHL (Jr. B). No idea why the Cents want another young goalie (they allready have two)… Nevermind one who is (1-7-0) in Jr. B.

* The Vipers have given D - Nils-Erik Soderlund (90) a full time roster spot… DieHardVipersFan has more.

Weekend highlights from south of the border included defenders Devon Krogh and Kaare Odegard each recording their first NCAA point. Curtis McKenzie continues to look sharp as a Redhawk with a four point weekend for Miami at New Hampshire. Also, 2008 Fred Page Cup winner Alex Evin continues to make a case for the starting job in net at Colgate.

Hextall mixes it up!

Brennan Barker D (SR, Alabama-Huntsville) - 4GP 0-2-2 4PIM

Anthony Borelli G (FR, Brown) - Season Not Underway

Steve Cameron F (JR, Mercyhurst) - 4GP 1-1-2 2PIM

Cody Collins F (SR, Mercyhurst) - 4GP 0-1-1 0PIM

Deron Cousens D (JR, Michigan Tech) - 2GP 0-1-1 0PIM

Zac Dalpe F (SO, Ohio State) - 4GP 1-1-2 0PIM

Alex Evin G (SO, Colgate) - 2GP (1-0-1) 1.44 .945

Brett Hextall F (SO, North Dakota) - 4GP 2-0-2 18PIM

Tanner House F (JR, Maine) - 0GP - INJURY

Zack Josepher D (FR, Michigan State) - 4GP 2-2-4 2PIM

Devon Krogh D (FR, Ohio State) - 3GP 0-1-1 0PIM

Eric Kroshus F (SO, Harvard) - Season Not Underway

Justin Krueger D (SR, Cornell) - Season Not Underway

Brian Lebler F (SR, Michigan) - 2GP 1-0-1 4PIM

Alex MacLeod F (SO, Michigan Tech) - 2GP 0-0-0 2PIM

Bryant Molle D (JR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 4GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Curtis McKenzie F (FR, Miami-Ohio) - 4GP 2-3-5 6PIM

Cory Milan G (JR, Union) - 3GP (2-0-1) 2.28 .925

TJ Miller D (SR, Northern Michigan) - 2GP 0-0-0 2PIM

Trevor Nill F (SO, Michigan State) - 4GP 0-0-0 2PIM

Bryan Mountain G (FR, Northeastern) - NO STARTS

Kaare Odegard D (FR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 3GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Travis Ouellette F (FR, Ferris State) - 4GP 2-0-2 2PIM

Cory Schneider F (SO, Ohio State)- 3GP 0-0-0 0PIM

Austin Smith F (SO, Colgate) - 4GP 2-0-2 4PIM

Evan Trupp F (JR, North Dakota) - 4GP 0-3-3 2PIM

Brent Vandenberg F (FR, Niagara) - 2GP 1-0-1 2PIM

QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF ACTIVE NCAA PLAYERS!

Brennan Barker D (Alabama-Huntsville) - 2GP 0-1-1 4PIM

Steve Cameron F (Mercyhurst) 2GP 0-0-0 0PIM

Cody Collins F (Mercyhurst) 2GP 1-0-1 0PIM

Deron Cousens D (Michigan Tech) - 2GP 0-1-1 0PIM

Zac Dalpe F (Ohio State) - 2GP 0-1-1 0PIM

Alex Evin G (Colgate) - 1GP (1-0-0) 2.00 .935

Brett Hextall F (North Dakota) - 2GP 2-0-2 0PIM

Tanner House F (Maine) - 0GP - INJURY

Zack Josepher D (Michigan State) - 2GP 2-2-4 2PIM

Devon Krogh D (Ohio State) - 1GP 0-0-0 0PIM

Eric Kroshus F (Harvard) - Season Not Underway

Justin Krueger D (Cornell) - Season Not Underway

Brian Lebler F (Michigan) - 2GP 1-0-1 4PIM

Alex MacLeod F (Michigan Tech) - 2GP 0-0-0 2PIM

Bryant Molle D (Alaksa Fairbanks) - 2GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Curtis McKenzie F (Miami-Ohio) - 2GP 1-0-1 4PIM

Cory Milan G (Union) - 2GP (2-0-0) 2.00 .930

TJ Miller D (Northern Michigan) - 2GP 0-0-0 2PIM

Trevor Nill F (Michigan State) 0-0-0 2PIM 2PIM

Bryan Mountain G (Northeastern) - NO STARTS

Kaare Odegard D (Alaska-Fairbanks) - 1GP 0-0-0

Travis Ouellette F (Ferris State) - 2GP 1-0-1 0PIM

Cory Schneider F (Ohio State)- 1GP 0-0-0 0PIM

Austin Smith F (Colgate) - 2GP 2-0-2 2PIM

Evan Trupp F (North Dakota) - 2GP 0-1-1 0PIM

Brent Vandenberg F (Niagara) - 1GP 1-0-1 2PIM

I spoke with Miami Redhawks 18-year-old freshman Curtis McKenzie on Monday.

The new guy is fitting in quite nicely in Ohio as he potted his first goal in his first game against. Curtis is back to the books and getting used to his new club in the CCHA.

Curtis lead the Vees in Goals, Points, GWG, PPG, SHG and PIM last season as a 17-year-old. Curtis was a member of the Canada West World Jr. A Challenge silver medal team, Team West of the CJHL Prospects Game, a BCHL All-Star, was named Captain of the Vees when Denver Manderson was injured in January, and was drafted by the Dallas Stars in June.

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Happy Turkey Day!

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.

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Assistant Coach from the 2007/2008 Fred Page Cup Champion Vees Aaron Wilbur has had quite a weekend of competition with the UBC Thunderbirds.

Not only have the T-Birds been to Minnesota to play exhibition games with NCAA programs, but they also hosted a charity game with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat.

Aaron gets us caught up to speed with a whirl-wind week and the former Vees on the roster.

We ran out of time for this interview on Monday Night’s program, but it is still worthy of a listen.

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* Randy Sexton (father of Ben) has finally had the interim tag dropped and been named the new GM of the Florida Panthers. Here’s the press conference from earlier today in Helsinki.

* The Ohio State Buckeyes are a team full of Vees Alumni. Zac Dalpe & Cory Schneider are entering their sophomore season, Devon Krogh is a freshman this year, and down the road current Vees Forward Alex Szczechura will be attending OSU. Other BCHL grads on the Buckeyes include Juniors Hunter Bishop (Vernon) & Erick Belanger (Nanaimo), as well as Sophomore Taylor Stephishen (Langley).

Here’s Zac on the expectation for the Buckeyes this season:

…And a season preview

* Another NCAA team laden with BCHLers is the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Junior Evan Trupp (older brother of current Vees forward Hayden) and Sophomore Brett Hextall - the captain of the 2007/2008 Fred Page Cup Champions - play with Seniors Chay Genoway (Vernon) and Darcy Zajac (Salmon Arm).

Here’s a season preview for the highly touted Fighting Sioux squad, who head into the season with

* If you missed Tuesday Night’s loss in Merritt, Emanuel Sequiera has the recap in the Penticton Western News.

* Trail is not a team to be taken lightly by the Vees tonight. The Smokies offense has finally woken up after scoring just 10 goals in their first six games of the year. The Orange & Black beat Williams Lake on Sunday and tied Salmon Arm on Tuesday Night and scored 12 goals in the two games.

* Adam Zamec appears to be close to a return in the Vees line-up. Though I doubt he’ll hit the ice this weekend, I wouldn’t be shocked if he made his debut on Wednesday at home against Cowichan.

* Al Formo is back on the broadcast tonight, and we’ll be joined by Chad Campbell in the pre-game show and 2nd intermission. Puck hits ice at 7:05 and the pre-game show on EZ Rock starts at 6:45 (PST… for you long distance fans). If you aren’t listening on EZ Rock in the South Okanagan or Similkameen, you can hop online to MyEZRock.com or swing by the BCHL’s audio scoreboard at BCHL.ca. Finally, if you are in the SOEC at the game you can tune into 105.5 FM to catch the braodcast.

16-year-old Vees forward Stephan Nicholishen has committed to the University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks.

Nicholishen, the youngest member of the Vees, has yet to record a point in his first year in the BCHL.

Currently Nebraska Omaha competes in the CCHA (Div. 1 NCAA), but by the time Stephan arrives in Omaha the Mavericks will be playing in the WCHA.

The Vees currently have 8 players with NCAA commitments.

I spoke with the 215 pound power forward about the news prior to practice today.

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Father of Vees D-man Derik Johnson - Jim Johnson has been named the Associate Coach of the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL (Tampa Bay’s Farm Team).

Jim played over 800 games in the NHL and has been working with Tampa’s organization for a few years now.

The Western College Blog has noticed the quick start the Vees have gotten off to and their talented roster.

Ron Vincent, who ripped apart the BCHL in the late 70’s with the Penticton Vees, is the Managing Partner of the club this year. Emanuel Sequiera of the Penticton Western News gives us more on his new role with the club.

Former Vees Defender Deron Cousens was at the Washington Capitals development camp earlier this Fall. The Georgetown Independant & Free Press has more on the Michigan Tech Junior’s brush with the NHL.

Brett Hextall talks about his role for the Fighting Sioux in his sophomore season in North Dakota.