vees:blog

“Hockey or Beer?” that’s the question people around Penticton have be asking themselves with the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale and Games 1 & 2 of the Fred Page Cup sharing centre stage this weekend. 40 of the best Junior ‘A’ hockey players in North America or over 75 of the best beers in North America? That’s a tough decision!

After much debate, I will be climbing the ladder of the Al Formo Broadcast Gondola in Memorial Arena and choosing hockey over beer. Too bad these two very special events didn’t overlap, but hey I’m sure we can find some sort of a compromise (and I don’t mean a drunken radio broadcaster). Maybe a two-event Saturday, a hand held radio, or a seat in the beer drinking section of Memorial Arena is the way to soak up the best of the Okanagan this weekend.

So while I do know a thing or two about beer, why don’t we move to a topic I know even more about: the Penticton Vees. Tonight and tomorrow the Vees will host the Clippers in the opening two game of the Fred Page Cup, in what should looks like a scintillating best-of-seven.

While Round 2 against Vernon was a hard-fought, physical affair, and Round 3 against Westside was fairly one-sided, this Nanaimo series should be a showcase for how entertaining Junior ‘A’ Hockey can be. 14 college commitments (4 to Ivey League Schools), 10 players averaging over a point per game in the playoffs, and two well run, well supported franchises; the BCHL brass has to be happy with the match-up they’ve got this year.

With two teams that both have great talent and depth, it’s hard to find an edge one way or another. Nanaimo’s Power Play has been red-hot, but Alex Evin has been the BCHL’s best goalie this year. The Vees 3rd and 4th lines are more effective, but the Clippers have last year’s BCHL Championship to draw upon. The two Defense corps are close enough to call a push with Nanaimo having hulking Matt Irwin and the Vees having more depth among the 6 rear-guards.

There is a Penticton theme to this year’s Clippers club, with 3 members of the Coast’s best starting the season with the Vees. Local Netminder Evan Smith was beat out by Bryan Mountain for the right to back-up Alex Evin in training camp, Local Forward Dustin Johnson played a hand-full of games as an AP with the Vees before being snapped up by Nanaimo. Johnson, who lit up the KIJHL early this season, has just an assist in the 9 games he’s played in the playoffs. On the back end the Clippers liked what they saw from Michael Boivin when he dressed against them in December with the Vees, He now patrols the blue-line alongside Matt Irwin on the Island. Are they good enough to be on this Vees club? Certainly not all of them are, although they will be motivated to face their former team.

No matter how you size up the BCHL Final, it seems this series won’t be a short one. Game Time is 7:00, Pre-game 6:30 tonight and tomorrow on EZ Rock.

1, 2, 3, 4, DONE. Well, that was quick! The Vees certainly made short work of the Westside Warriors in the Interior Conference Finals, needing just 6 days to break out the brooms on their South Okanagan rivals.

The writing was on the wall in a sloppy Game 2 where the Vees surrendered more than their usual share of chance, but managed to eek out a 6-5 win in overtime. When the Warriors couldn’t beat a less than stellar Vees club on a rare off night from Alex Evin, you knew they were in trouble when the Penticton club tightened up their game. The short series was predictable; this broadcaster wasn’t the only person in attendance draped in black clothes, as the Westside Warriors were laid to rest.

In the Warriors defense, they weren’t the same club they were in mid-season due to the early February injury of highly touted goalie Nathan Lieuwen. The 16-year-old 6’5” Kootney Ice prospect was injured in early February and came into the series against the Vees with no momentum, no playing time in a month and a half, and a nice collection of goaltending rust – which more often than not shows itself in the form of rebounds and bad angles. The Vees took advantage, beating the Warriors’ “1b” puckstopper, Stephen Caple, with regularity (as they did in the regular season) in Games 1 and 3, while getting to a less than perfect Lieuwen in Games 2 and 4.

The silver lining for the Warriors is that beyond the crease, they should have a ton of talent return for next year, including likely to be drafted Justin Schultz. If the Warriors can dig up a goaltender for next year they’ll be right back in the mix at the top of the Interior Conference.

As for those Vees? They just keep getting better. After a hard-fought 2nd Round match-up against Vernon, the Club looked battle hardened and poised against the Warriors. They found a way to win Game 2, when perhaps they shouldn’t have, and that seems to be the markings of a good hockey club.

The depth shown by the Vees is astounding.The top three lines have been excellent offensively while the energy line has lived up to its billing on a regular basis. No matter who is in the line-up the Vees have looked strong upfront.

On the back end the three duos have been solid, with standout performances from all 6 rear-guards in Games 3 and 4.

In the crease, Alex Evin has been himself. That’s about as good as a Junior ‘A’ goalie can be, if you aren’t familiar with the gaudy numbers posted by the Castlegar product.

As the Vees prepare for the BCHL Championship, they have to feel they are in great shape: they are healthy, they are playing well, and they are enjoying an 8 day span where they will heal some bumps and bruises while the Coastal Conference Finalist are battling for the right to advance.

Fred Page Cup Tickets for Game 1 & 2 are on sale Monday – Friday, 9-5 at the Vees Ticket office in Memorial Arena and on the phone at (250) 493-8337.

The Penticton Valley First Vees look to end the Vernon Vipers’ season tonight at Penticton Memorial Arena. Up 3-1 in the Interior Conference best-of-seven the Vees survived a OT split up in Vernon mid-week, losing Tuesday 3-2 before winning 4-3 Wednesday Night.

After blowing the Vipers out of the water 7-2 in Game 1, the Vees have played 3 very close contests. Game two was scoreless until 14:20 of the 3rd period with the Vees striking first, and adding a pair of empty net goals, Game 3 needed extra time, where the Vipers ended play on a unusual and mildly controversial goal from Kellen Jones and Game 4 was another nail biter that saw Denver Manderson play hero, returning from injury to set up the overtime winner scored by Michael Guzzo. Don’t expect tonight’s match to be a blowout, these teams have played each other very tight.

I can’t help but notice the over-whelming number of post that have been hit in this Okanagan Battle. Game 3 featured the post-man ringing six times, Game 4 had another few pings for each team, and Zac Dalpe got his iron supplement in Game one wiring a rocket off the cross-bar. Are their magnets in these pucks? Are the goalies covering the rest of the net? I don’t know the answer, but I do know it is a game of inches and a few bounces one way or the other and this series could have an entirely different complexion.

The Vees Power Play awoke from it’s slumber in Game 4. After finishing the season converting at 22.4% on the Power Play (4th in the BCHL), the Vees are just 3/22 (13.6%) in the post-season. Austin Smith’s first of the game Wednesday snapped a 0/16 slump for the special teams unit. The silver lining is that the Vipers have been worse with the extra man. Vernon is 2/23 on the Power Play, while both teams have allowed a short handed goal in the series (Schneider in Game 1, and Zurevinski in Game 4)

Elsewhere around the BCHL the Salmon Arm Silverback continue to beat up on the Westside Warriors after losing Game 1. The Warriors are without number one goalie Nathan Lieuwen and have watched Bryan Gillis of the Silverbacks outduel Stephen Caple between the pipes.

The Langley Chiefs and Victoria Grizzlies are all square after four games with the road team winning each game of the series. If the trend continues Victoria will win Game 7 in Langley!

And we can lay to rest the Powell River Kings, who upset the Surrey Eagles, but never seemed to recover from a Game 1 collapse that saw the Nanaimo Clippers tie the game after trailing by 3 and winning in OT.

Monday on Boston Pizza Vees This Week we’ll continue in our efforts to nail down a current NHLer who cut his teeth in the BCHL, and if their isn’t a Game 7 on Tuesday, Mitch Lebreche and Michael Guzzo will be signing autographs at Boston Pizza.

Tonight’s Game is a 7:00 start, Pre-game 6:30 on EZ Rock.

Hard to believe, but the BCHL playoffs begin in just a single, solitary week! While the Penticton Valley First Vees won’t be taking part in the first round, having clinched a bye, the club does still have a lot on the line this weekend against Vernon. The Vees need a single point or a Westside loss or tie to clinch home ice for the post season, and the way the Warriors and Vipers have played in the new year, that isn’t a given.

This weekend’s home-and-home rematch of last years Interior Conference final has certainly caught the interest of the hockey fans in Vernon. Tonight’s attendance at the Vernon Multiplex should be close to 3000, as the Vipers had sold 2500 tickets mid-way through the week. Vees fans would be wise to get tickets for tomorrow’s back end of the home-and-home, as the two clubs will be sending messages to each other, knowing they could meet in the playoffs for what would be a very physical series.

Vipers fans have had a lot to cheer about in the New Year with the arrival of re-enforcements after the team suffered 3 defections in the Fall. Andrew Hammond now patrols the Vipers crease as the number one goalie, while Kevin Kraus and Justin Palazzo have beefed up the blue-line, and Greg Beller’s big body has added depth up front.

The Vees have had Vernon’s number this season, posting 3 wins and a loss in 4 games, but the Vees haven’t seen the new look Vipers since adding all the parts mentioned above. Should the Vees earn a point or two tonight, it will be interesting to see what kind of roster Fred Harbinson puts on the ice tomorrow. One could justify a night off for many of the Vees best, but with the Vees first playoff game slated for the 7th of March, Coach Harbinson may not see any value in an extra day of rest.

As mentioned, the Vees will open their 2008 post-season play on March 7th and 8th with back-to-back home games. Playoff tickets are now available at the Vees office in Memorial Arena (493-8337). A wise man once said ‘the sooner you buy your playoff tickets, the better the view’… Or, did I just make that up? Either way, I’m sure it’s true! For info see the teams website.

The Vees are relatively healthy moving into the post-season. Anthony Perdicaro and Denver Manderson we’re both scratched in last weekend’s monster win in Surrey, but will have the bye to heal their ‘bumps and bruises’. The two centers are less than 100%, but will likely play in the post-season opener, but are doubtful for this weekend’s action against Vernon.

Next week on ‘Boston Pizza Vees This Week’ Chad Campbell and I catch up with soon to be drafted rookie Zac Dalpe and super sixteen-year-old wrecking ball Curtis Mackenzie as they sign autographs at Boston Pizza. Also, we’ll take a close look at the four first round match-ups in the BCHL playoffs and make our fearless prognostications. That’s all Monday night, 6:00 ‘til 7:00 on EZ Rock AM 800

The Penticton Valley First Vees close out their 60 game regular season with a home-and-home with the Vernon Vipers this weekend. The Okanagan rivals are both playoff bound and know a meeting in the playoffs is a distinct possibility. A big crowd is expected Friday in Vernon and in Saturday season finale, here in the Penticton.

Currently the Vees need just a single point or a Westside loss or tie to claim top spot in the Interior Conference, while Vernon can’t finish lower than 4th, and are a long shot for a bye with Salmon Arm and Westside above them in the standings.

The last time the Vees and Vipers met was December 2nd, here in Penticton, with the home side winning 7-2 in a game that saw 8 fights and the unveiling of the Vees 3rd Jerseys. The Vees have tweaked their roster since that game, but the Vipers have changed their team more drastically, acquiring Andrew Hammond (from Surrey to replace ‘number one’ goalie Bryce Christianson who jumped early to college), two big Western League defensemen (Justin Palazzo and Kevin Kraus), college drop-out Greg Beller, and Justin Thomas – a Merritt ‘clearance sale’ pick-up.

What an incredible season Hunter Bishop is having with the Vipers. The 20-year-old sniper currently has 57 goals in 57 games (Wednesday’s hosting of Salmon Arm not included), an incredible feat in todays BCHL. In fact Bishop and Burnaby’s Brodie Reid (who has 51) are the only two players who have eclipsed the 40-goal mark this season. While Bishop missed 50 in 50 by one game (he got 50 in 51), he may indeed get 60 in 60. By contrast the Vees leading sniper is rookie Austin Smith who has 32 goals in 58 games.

Both games start at 7:00 with our pre-game show starting at 6:30 on EZ Rock.

The Penticton Vees embark on their final road trip of the regular season today. The Vees face the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Tomorrow, play Burnaby Saturday and suit up for their 3rd game in 48 hours Sunday afternoon in Surrey.

With just 5 games remaining, the Vees are focused on locking down home ice and hitting the playoffs in full stride. Home ice for the Fred Page Cup (BCHL Final) switches over to the Interior Conference this year, also BC has home ice in the Doyle Cup (BC vs. AB), meaning the Vees could conceivably have home ice through to the Royal Bank Cup if they hang onto top spot in the Interior and put a run together in the post-season (that’s a big IF).

Tomorrow’s game shouldn’t lack any intensity as the Vees look to avenge an embarrassing home loss to Alberni on January 19th. Bryant Perrier (former Vees Coach), Allan Kerr (OHS/OHA Partner) and Chris Moulson (who requested a trade in the Fall) all especially enjoyed sticking a loss to the Vees last month, and the Blue, Black and White will be eager to return the favour on the Island.

Saturday, the Vees make their only visit to Burnaby, where league leading scorer Carlos Finucci and fellow snipers Brodie Reid and Cody Campbell have their second and final crack at beating the Vees. The talented trio have combined for 250+ points thus far this season, and are in the top 7 point getters in the BCHL.

Sunday Tough-guy Scott Brownlee, who now dons Surrey threads, should face the Vees for the first time since his request to be moved was granted in the Fall. Brownlee just returned to the line-up after missing 7 games due to injury.

MANDERSON MARVELOUS

What a return for Denver Manderson! Incase you forgot how slick the 18-year-old centreman was (prior to getting injured in mid-November), Denver refreshed everybody’s memory Saturday night against Salmon Arm, setting up 3 goals while scoring the other in a 4-1 Vees win. It’s hard to believe the Furgus, ON native cleared OHL waivers in early September, as the Kitchener Rangers (who cut Denver loose) loaded up to host the Memorial Cup this season. Denver certainly isn’t the biggest, strongest, hardest shooting, or fastest skating player on the Vees roster. What sets Denver apart is his incredible vision on the ice. With the four-point return to the line-up Denver now has 14 goals and 29 assists in 26 games, an average of 1.65 points per game. Stretched over a healthy 60 game schedule Denver’s total would be 99 points. How the Vees coaching staff plans to use the offensively gifted forward down the stretch remains to be seen. While Denver is healthy, he won’t likely play in each of the remaining 8 games this season as the Vees will get a look at an ‘AP’ or two and spread the ice time as judiciously as possible prior to the playoffs.

This weekend the Valley First Vees have a chance to put a strangle hold on home ice in the Interior Conference as the Merritt Centennials host the Blue, Black and White tonight before visiting Pen Memorial tomorrow. Another four-point weekend from the Vees would force Salmon Arm or Westside to run the table for a shot at top spot.

Some fantastic battles for a first round bye are getting heated in both the Interior and Coastal Conferences. In the Interior, Salmon Arm, Westside and a re-tooled Vernon club are all within four points, with Salmon Arm and Westside squaring off twice down the stretch and Vernon and Salmon Arm playing once. With Nanaimo several nautical miles up the standings out west, all three Lower Mainland teams have their eyes on second spot with Langley, Surrey and Burnaby each facing each other twice before seasons end. Clearly the head to head match-ups are key for all teams involved in the battle for the bye in each Conferences.

With 8 games remaining, the Vees are closing in on a BCHL record set by the ’05-’06 Penticton Vees. You wouldn’t have believed it at the beginning of the year, but this Vees group can go down in BCHL history as the stingiest team of all time, if they can allow fewer than 15 goals the rest of the year.

Monday’s ‘Boston Pizza Vees This Week’ features Speedster Mitch Lebreche and Tough-Guy Eli Grossmann signing autographs at Boston Pizza, a look at Vees recruiting with Assistant Coach Aaron Wilbur, and a closer look at the final Coastal roadie of the season. That’s all 6-7, Monday Night on EZ Rock AM 800. Tonight’s game in Merritt starts at 7:30, pre-game 7:00. Saturday’s tilt goes at 7:00, pre-game 6:30 on EZ Rock.

Ryan Pinder is the Play-by-Play Voice of the Vees.

The Penticton Valley First Vees find themselves in the driver’s seat of the Interior Conference race for home ice after collecting 4 points last weekend. The Vees now have a magic number of 4, meaning 4 wins guarantees top spot in the Interior, while top seed in the league should go down to the wire with Nanaimo.

This weekend the Vees get a double shot of Merritt Centennials with Friday’s game in the Nichola Valley Arena and Saturday’s game at Pen Memorial. The Vees have beaten the Centenials in each of the four meetings thus far this season and can sweep the season series with a pair of wins this weekend.

The Vees have won back-to-back regular season Interior Conference titles and barring a collapse down the stretch, ‘07-‘08 will make three consecutive; quite the accomplishment for the Vees brass that took over the Panthers just 4 years ago.

Another historical feat that is within the grasp of the Vees is the BCHL goals against record set by the ‘05-’06 Vees. Currently the Vees are on pace to allow 140 goals against this season, with the record set three years ago sitting at 137. With two games against Merritt this weekend and Alberni on the schedule as well, the Vees certainly could re-write the history books. With 8 games remaining, the club needs to allow less than 15 goals to set the BCHL record.

The Merritt Centennials roster has been plagued with defections and trades this season. Gone are Erik Ruud, Johnny Mahovolich, Jordan Zalba, Kevin Koopman, Nicholas Kang, Scott Jow and Kyle McConnell while Shane Mainprize is under ‘team suspension’ leaving the Cents with a single goalie. It’s been a tough year for the historic franchise and next year will be another challenge to change the culture around the club.