vees:blog

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…)

Amid the usual conversation at the KVS Pub regarding the week that was, the upcoming match-ups, and the storylines of the week in the BCHL was something that seemed to strike a nerve with the Vees Head Coach and GM.

On the heels of their recently released 2010 Watch List, Fred Harbinson was awfully vocal about his displeasure with NHL Central Scouting and their lack of exposure for the BCHL. Fred seemed particularly disappointed with Isaac MacLeod’s absence from the list, and I suppose you can see his point. If a 6′5 17-year-old defender who skates well isn’t a prospect, what is!?

Other topic broached include the team’s precautionary measures regarding the H1N1 flu epidemic (pandemic?!). Fred’s son Freddy (who lives in Wisconsin) is among the growing number of young athletes that have caught the Swine Flu.

Also, Fred walks us through the acquisition of Taylor Peters a big 17-year-old kid who played a full season with the Portland Winterhawks last year. The timing couldn’t be better as the Vees are facing short bench for the next two weeks with the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge going on in PEI.

With the Burnaby Express in town featuring four former Vees, the home side missing four regulars, and the expected debut of newcomer Taylor Peters there are all sorts of reasons to be at the SOEC tomorrow.

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WJAC DEPARTURES & FAUST’S RETURN

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?!

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.

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.

Former teammates Austin Smith, Anthony Perdicaro and Curtis McKenzie were all part of the 2008 BCHL Champs that broke a 22 year drought for the city of Penticton. Just a year and a half later, the trio are all getting accolades for their potential to contribute as professionals.

Pesty 20-year-old Anthony Perdicaro (whose favorite player is Sean Avery) will be at the Great Falls Phantoms (American Hockey League) training camp this month after 2 years in the BCHL. If he doesn’t make the squad he’ll be with the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League.

Colgate Raiders Sniper Austin Smith will forever be remembered in Penticton for scoring the first goal in each game of a sweep of the Nanaimo Clippers in the BCHL final, but in Dallas, TX the hometown kid is just starting to draw attention after a fantastic freshman season in the ECAC. Smith is ranked 17th among Starts prospects.

Fellow Stars draft pick and one of the youngest captains in Penticton hockey history, Curtis McKenzie, is also climbing the prospect ranking in the Dallas system. Heading into his freshman year at Miami of Ohio Curtis led the Vees in Goals, PPG, SHG, GWG, Points, and PIMs last year at the tender age of 17. C-Mac is listed at #16.

Quite a crop that was in 07/08.

* I’ve been getting lots of e-mails regarding the pre-season round robin in Trail and whether or not we will be broadcasting the game. No - Al and I won’t be on the air from the Cominco Arena in Trail, but yes - we will be covering the event on the Vees Blog. We’ll have a live blog going on during Vees games where you can add your two cents or ask questions as I provide updates throughout the action. Here’s an example of ‘Cover It Live’ live blogging in action.

If you have any questions for me, Al Formo, or any other member of the club (players, coaches, trainer, bus driver, doctor, ect.) feel free to pass them along and I’ll do my best to address them during the ‘blog-cast’ (I think I just made up a word). Also, you can hit me with preemptive strikes at VeesVoice(at)gmail(dot)com.

* Here’s a great story from Vernon, where a one of the feared Warwick Brothers of the 1955 World Champion Vees has a treasured piece of history back.

In other ‘55 Vees news Ivan McLelland spoke Sunday night at Vees training camp. Following his speech Ivan was asked by Sean Bonar to sign his goalie mask which depicts the legendary Vees net-minder in action. Ivan says he’ll sign the gear and is honoured Sean thought to ask.

* Former Vees Evan Trupp and Brett Hextall will be leaned upon in Grand Forks, ND this season. The Fighting Sioux are ranked 7th in the nation by ‘The College Hockey Blog’.

The Fighting Sioux were bounced by the New Hampshire Wildcats in the opening round of the Frozen Four

* Dylan Olsen has been named the named top recruit in the WCHA & CCHA by ‘The Western College Hockey Blog’. The Camrose Kodiak is pals with Vees Alum Curtis McKenzie and played against the Vees in the 2008 Doyle Cup.

The Blackhawks nabbed Olsen with the 28th pick in June’s NHL Entry Draft.

* Former Vees AP Michael Boivin has committed to Colorado College. Nabbed by the Clippers after playing in Nanaimo with the Vees, Boivin has played a huge role on the Clippers blue-line.

HC/GM Fred Harbinson and I kick around some news items regarding the team and the league, as training camp starts in exactly a week.

On Johansen

His 08/09 regular season numbers don’t jump at you off the screen, but don’t understate the offensive tools Ryan has. Johansen was 3rd in playoff scoring for the Vees and was worlds better in March than he was in the Fall in his first months of Junior. Crafty. Big. Skilled. He may be on TV one day.

Roger Tepper. Edge Photography. edgephoto@telus.net

I envision Ryan in a top 6 role in Portland this season and an NHL team to announce his name come the NHL Entry Draft in late June. [On a side note the Entry Draft was slated to take place in Phoenix, but could be relocated due to the Coyotes bankruptcy chaos.] Best of luck to the kid!

Szczerchura Added to Equation

Szczerchura = “Shuh-here-a”

Big Brother Paul = Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ohio State = Dalpe + Schneider + Krogh + Szczechura = Vees

Enough Math.

Here’s big brother Paul

More Mayhem in Merritt

Shawn and Brian have been following Merritt’s off-season with much more detail that I have, but if what Fred says in our interview below, is true, Merritt is entering a world of pain.

The Cents were nearly bought by more stable ownership months ago, before the deal fell through just weeks ago. Now the team may be without a Head Coach & GM, and is most certainly in a precarious financial situation.

You have to feel for the fans, players and people of Merritt as they’ve had a real rough 2+ years with rumours of sales, relocation and management changes. Never mind the 82 loses in the past 2 season. This will be an interesting situation to follow in the next few weeks.

**** UPDATE ****

Brian Wiebe at ‘Making Cents’ has confirmed Bouchard has resigned as head coach and GM.

Gonzo

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TSN is reporting that local boy Justin Pogge will be traded to the Anahiem Ducks on Monday.

Justin was in Penticton at the end of July playing in the BC HHOF Summer Classic game (he’s seen here signing a poster for the event). No doubt a change of scenery further away from the ravenous Toronto media can’t be a bad thing for the 22-year-old puck-stopper.

* 2007/2008 BCHL Rookie of the Year Zac Dalpe has been listed as one of the top 5 prospects in the Carolina Hurricanes system by NHL.com in their league wide summer check-ups.

* Weird to say it but ‘ALUMNI’ Curtis McKenzie has been the talk of many hockey people over the last few days. Apparently the Red Deer Rebels are still intent on luring C-Mac to play in the WHL this season (see the bottom of Greg Drinnan’s Wednesday posting). Despite mulling over his options last summer (BCHL vs. WHL) and choosing Penticton and the fact C-Mac earned a full-ride to Miami of Ohio in the pre-season, the Rebels are still chasing the power forward. Here’s a good scouting profile on the Golden (BC) boy, if you need a refresher on his sensational seventeen-year-old season.

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.