vees:blog

Twelve games marks exactly 1/5th of the BCHL’s 60 game season, and so let us pause and take account of a young Penticton Vees squad tattooed with the label of ‘defending champs’ despite a huge roster turnover.

A look at the standings finds the Vees in the midst of the tight Interior Conference, but well back in the number of games played. It’s tough to get a sense of where they rank in the Interior, because the rest of the conference has played 15-19 games (as opposed to 12), and the Vees have played Quesnel once, and are yet to play Merritt, arguably the two weakest teams in the conference (by contrast Salmon Arm have played the pair 7 times each, Prince George and Westside 6 times and Trail 5 times,).

Also of note, the Vees have played just 3 home games this season, a remarkably low number due to the construction of the S.O.E.C.. The Vees are a perfect (3-0-0-0) at home, but then again what really is a home game? Today the Vees will conduct their first practice (!) at the S.O.E.C., which will start to give them a feel for the rink. Memorial Arena’s dwarfed dimensions and deceptive corners will now be replaced with a brand new boards and NHL size ice.

Starting tomorrow the Vees will enjoy a three game home-stand (doubling their home games played), before departing on their longest road trip of the season where they play @ Merritt, @ Powell River, @ Surrey, @Burnaby, and @ Langley over a span of 8 days.

Making the long journey more challenging is the fact that the Vees will likely be without the services of top centre Denver Manderson, and gritty 17-year-old standout Curtis McKenzie for all but the first of the 5 game road trip. Manderson and McKenzie have been named to a 25 man expanded roster for Team Canada West of the World Jr. ‘A’ Challenge that will get pared down to 22 for the international tournament.

As for the team itself, the biggest challenge for this club is trying not to be dwarfed by comparisons to last years club. The diaper-clad 08/09 release of the Vees features 6 players born in ‘91 & ‘92, 10 rookies, and 5 players who played Midget last season.

The D-core is veteran (4 x 20-year-olds, 2 x 19-year-olds, and 1 x 16-year-old) and the strength of the club, injuries and suspensions excused, they have resembled one of the best groups in the league. Goyens has been steady, Jobke equal to the task, Grossmann as intimidating as ever, and the top four have been sound.

Upfront, the late return of Denver Manderson gives the Vees one of the top offensive players in the BCHL. Perdicaro, Vandenberg and McKenzie have produced with consistency, but aside from the aforementioned quartet the forward ranks need to find the back of the net more regularly. Milan has shown flashes of brilliance, but is still trying to find out what does and doesn’t work in the BCHL. Ditto for Junior ‘B’ standouts Travis Ouellette and Ryan Viselli. Youngsters Ryan Johansen and Logan Johnston are young and improving with each game, playing in an ‘energy-line’ role. Veterans Brad Reid, Mitch Lebreche and David Andreassen have been steady if not spectacular, and Joey Holka has added physicality while his playmaking skills are still adjusting to the quick pace of the BCHL.

Between the pipes inconsistency has plagued the rookie tandem of Borelli and Bonar. It also doesn’t help that for the last 3 years the Vees have had been backstopped by arguably the best goalie in the BCHL at the time (Alex Evin last season, and Cory Milan in previous years). Bonar is just 17 and has at least another year and a half of development in Junior A ahead of him, while Borelli is 19 and has the pressure of living up to the expectations of a #1 goaltender in his first season in the BCHL.

If the club can play well at home for their next three games, tread water on the road without two players from their top line, they have an 8 game homestand waiting for them come mid-November.

I chatted with Fred Harbinson ahead of practice today…

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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.

Week 3 Power Rankings are as easy as a click of a button… (this is a snippet of the full hour long program posted above)

The folks in Trail & Westside won’t be thrilled.

Sorry Mullin!

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Here’s round two of the Interior Conference Power Rankings. Previous ranks are in parenthesis.

1. (3) Prince George Spruce Kings (3-1-0-0) - We’ll excuse Sunday’s loss to Merritt as the Kings played the night before in Vernon… and earned top spot in the Interior Standings. Special teams have been exceptional.

2. (2) Penticton Vees (1-0-0-1) - Had a week off, so we won’t move them from where they were. Northern Roadie this weekend will tell us more about the well rested defending champs!

3. (1) Vernon Vipers (2-1-0-1) - Loss to PG raised eye-brows, but took care of Westside on the road. Hammond will give this team a chance to win every night.

4. (6) Westside Warriors (2-2-0-0) - Ho-hum weekend going 1-1 . New ‘tender Garrett Beckworth posted solid numbers in his BCHL debut and could have the starting job soon!

5. (5) Trail Smoke Eaters (2-1-0-0) - Squeaked by Merritt on the Road and Lost to Westside at Home. G Marco Raimondo is healthy now, and playing well, while Barclay Loses. Who is number 1?

6. (7) Quesnel Millionaires (2-1-0-0) - Jeff Malcolm has been great in net, stopping 93.5% of all shots… Just ask Salmon Arm! No easy points up North this year!

7. (8) Merritt Centennials (1-3-0-0) - After getting outscored 13 to 1 last weekend the Cents looked much better this weekend losing by one to Trail and knocking off PG.

8. (4) Salmon Arm Silverbacks (1-3-0-0) - Back to back loses in Quesnel hurt. Especially when you out shoot your opponent in each game. 4 goals on 80 shots, yuck! Expect improvement!

Again, your comments and very own rankings are welcome!

Shaun Mullin has posted his rankings here… A few discrepancies, but nothing too shocking.

Vees Head Coach Fred Harbinson following Monday’s practice.

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On a dark and wet Wednesday in the Okanagan, the Penticton Vees hit the ice for day one of the 2008-2009 Training Camp in normally desert-like Osoyoos, BC (home to Canada’s hottest climate).

Zoom in for a better look! (+)

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The 43 players vying for a roster spot are divided into two teams (black and white) who will scrimmage once today, twice Thursday and twice Friday (among other on and off-ice activities) before returning back to Penticton on Saturday and heading into the Mountains for team building on Sunday (bear hunting?!).

The Vees open their four game exhibition schedule Tuesday in Merritt, and open the regular season on September 5th in Westside.

The Vees playing roster must be widdled down from 43 to 23 by the beginning of the regular season.

Here’s a look at Central Scouting’s Final Rankings for the 2008 NHL Draft. Both Zac Dalpe and Joe Colborne are slated as first rounders among North American Skaters.

There should be a few scouts in Memorial Arena tonight!

Here’s the BCHL’s piece on ranked players in BC

Here are the results of the Vees Playoff Picks from the 1st Round of the NHL Playoffs.

1 point for each series winner picked. A bonus point for also selecting the number of games in the series.

Example: 1 point for picking Montreal in 4 Games, 2 Points for picking Montreal in 7 Games, No points for picking Boston in 7 Games

Points Total - Name (bonus points)

9 - Pond (3), Smith (2), Perdicaro (2), Evin (3)

8 - Knudsen (2), Pinder (2)

7 - Maxwell (1), Lebreche (1), Muchalla (1), Hengen (1)

6 - Nill (1), Mountain (0), Manderson (1), Dalpe (1), Kroshus (0), Josepher (1), Westover (1), Hextall (0), Guzzo (1)

5 - Johnston (1), Schneider (1), Krogh (0), McMurphy (0), McKenzie (1), Bettauer (0)

4 - Grossmann (0)

3 - Wagner (0)

Jonathan Huntington reports the success achieved off the ice by Alberta’s Jr. ‘A’ Heavyweight.

That means the Kodiaks will continue to be a hockey force moving forward.

The Penticton Vees are now up to 3rd spot in the Nation.

Here is the list.

Apparently the Brain Surgeons at CJAHL Control think the Kodiaks will prevail at home tonight!