vees:blog

International Junior ‘A’ Hockey will be in the spotlight tonight.

TSN 2 has coverage of the Gold Medal Game of the World Jr. A Challenge live from Camrose starting at 5PM (PST).

Canada West looks for their 3rd consecutive Gold Medal and will face an American team comprised of USHL players. The Penticton Vees are well represented at the showcase event with Denver Manderson and Curtis McKenzie on the team a year after Brett Hextall (UND), Zac Dalpe (Ohio St.) and Trevor Nill (Michigan St.) struck gold with Canada West in Trail, BC.

Manderson leads Canada West in points with 2 goals and 3 assists, while McKenzie has a goal.

Check your local listings for TSN 2 coverage of the event (it was TSN last year).

Jordan White was smiling ear to ear in the Nichola Valley Arena. Come to think of it, so were Murray Maxwell and Al Formo - who represented the only present links to Jordan’s last stint in Penticton 3 years ago.

Just after midnight in the wee Sunday morning hours Jordan was acquired in a 5-team, 8-player deal that involved the Merritt Centennials, the Cowichan Valley Capitals and a team in both the AJHL and the MJHL. The Vees surrender 20-year-old Camrose native David Andreassen (off to the AJHL) and 19-year-old rookie Goaltender Anthony Borelli (to the MJHL) in the dizzying exchange.

But, while the addition of White most certainly improves the strength of the Vees club, the club looked plenty weak on the ice in an embarrassing 4-1 loss in Merritt where the visitor seemed to feign interest and lacked any sort of intensity.

Sean Bonar got the start for the second straight game (that likely won’t be happening much anymore), as White worked the gate on the Vees bench in his ‘08 Vees debut. Odds are strong the easy-going former Portland Winter Hawk will start Wednesday in Powell River - the second of five games for the Vees on this eight day road trip. Perhaps we’ll see glimpses of why Al and Murray were so happy today!

Here’s my conversation with Jordan today prior to the game with the Cents.

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Mr. Computer and I get the skinny on the Vees from the breakfast table to the arena!

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Vipers Mark Ferner

Vees Fred Harbinson

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Traded early in the year, Scott Brownlee faces his former club tonight.

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Vees Head Coach Fred Harbinson

Burnaby Express Head Coach Dave McLellan

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Fred Harbinson and Bryant Perrier

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Vees Head Coach Fred Harbinson

Prince George Spruce Kings Head Coach and GM Ed Dempsey

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Here is closer look at tonight’s match-up. By the numbers, of course.

Vees Record vs. PG: 3-1-1 (one win in OT)

Special Teams: PP 5/29 = 17.2% PK 22/27 = 81.5%

Goals For: 21 Goals Against: 14

Average Shots For: 38 Average Shots Against: 31.6

TOP VEES

Austin SMITH 6G 3A 9PTS

Zack JOSEPHER 4G 3A 7PTS

Cory SCHNEIDER 3G 4A 7PTS

Michael GUZZO 0G 7A 7PTS

Denver MANDERSON 2G 4A 6PTS

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GOALIES

Alex EVIN (2-0-0) 140 Mins, .938 SP, 1.71 GAA

Bryan MOUNTAIN (1-1-1) 171 Mins, .894 SP, 3.51 GAA

Merritt Centennials Assistant Coach Gilles Leberre & Vees Head Coach Fred Harbinson.

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