Sean Bonar was named tournament MVP after standing on his head in the gold medal game, making 34 saves on 34 shots. Bonar - who is committed to Princeton - was also named Canada West player of the game for the second time in the tournament.
Coming home to the Okanagan with gold is Beau Bennett, the leading rookie scorer of the BCHL this season. Beau was the only non-USHL player on the American roster and compiled 3 goals and 4 points in 5 games played (not to mention a pair of posts in Sunday’s gold medal game). Having visited Denver and Colorado earlier in the season, Beau seems to have narrowed his decision on an NCAA club down to two.
Joey LaLeggia was his productive self as the tournament contributing 4 assists over 5 games from Canada West’s blue-line. The 17-year-old Burnaby product is committed to New Hampshire, and was the Captain of the Vancouver Major Midget Giants last year.
The trio will return home with medals around their necks (and perhaps bags under their eyes) after a long day of travel from the Maritimes later this afternoon (there is a 4-hour time change). Coach Harbinson has stated he wants to meet with each of them before deciding their status for Wednesday’s game.
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…
I spoke with rookie D-man Isaac MacLeod and returning forward Adam Zamec today after Vees practice. While it appears Isaac will make his season debut tonight, Adam’s time-table isn’t so clear.
A brief practice today closed out the final preparations for the first weekend of the regular season. I caught up with Fred Harbinson on the eve of ‘Game 1′ in Williams Lake.
Not too many players of note have emerged from the Arizona desert in the history of hockey, but that may be starting to change. Joey Holka is a 6′3, 191 lbs Phoenix product with designs on changing what people think of hockey in Arizona. Much like Dallas Stars prospect and former Vees forward Austin Smith, Holka has come to the ‘Great White North’ from the heat of the ‘American South’ to further his hockey development.
Primed for his sophomore season, Joey Holka talked with the Vees Blog after Thursday’s practice, which was the last skate prior to the season opener in Williams Lake.
The fleet of foot forward has enjoyed a productive pre-season, and is set to take on a bigger role with the Vees this campaign.
No games today. Still 30 guys in town. Today’s lone ice-time was a practice. Trail tomorrow.
UNDER THE RADAR?
Perhaps lost in the midst of the strong recruiting Fred Harbinson has done this summer, is the acquisition of 20-year-old Eric Filiou.
The Quebec born centreman has played the past two seasons in Junior A hockey and is looking to bounce back after a rough 08/09 season with the Nanaimo Clippers.
Committed to U-Mass for the 10/11 season, Filiou has one final year of Junior hockey to prepare for a collegiate career.
I caught up with Eric after this morning’s team workout (click below for full interview).
A mecca of alpine sports, Whistler, British Columbia, isn’t known for it’s hockey products. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a Whistler minor hockey story as compelling or successful as that of Garrett Milan’s. The diminutive forward is coming off BCHL Interior Conference Rookie of the Year honours, and is still the talk of the rinks in this winter’s Olympic city.
With zero goals on the ledger, it’s time to give Matt Paltridge, Derik Johnson and Max Grassi a ribbing… Kaare Odegard narrowly escaped the gauntlet by scoring his first as a member of the Vees on Wednesday!
My money is on Grassi to break the goose-egg first!
Tonight Former Vees Forward Cory Schneider of the Ohio State Buckeyes will be on Boston Pizza Vees This Week. The Freshman from Rochester, NY has been out with injury since mid December but is close to a return to the roster as the Buckeyes prep for a clash with Trevor Nill’s Michigan State Spartans this weekend.
The CJHL National Rankings came out today and while the Vernon Vipers and Salmon Arm Silverbacks remain entrenched in the top 10, the Westside Warriors have earned an honorable mention, giving the Interior Conference 3 mentions in the rankings.
I spoke with Fred Harbinson today following practice to discuss all things Vees.
