vees:blog

It was another game at the South Okanagan Events Centre, and another win for the Interior Conference leading Penticton Vees on Wednesday.

The Vees now have five wins in as many attempts on home ice after a 6-1 defeat of the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Denver Manderson added 3 assists to move his league-leading total to 31 points and stretch his streak to twelve games with at least a point. Fifteen Vees recorded a point on Wednesday as the Vees got goals from 6 different scorers, included Adam Zamec who made his season debut after off-season surgery.

Sean Bonar was stellar in the crease for the Vees allowing just a single goal to Shaun Mueller, which caromed in off a defender’s skate. Bonar stopped 27 of 28 shots for his league leading eighth victory of the season.

Newly acquired goalie Alexandre Peck allowed four goals on 23 shots in 40 minutes of work, while 15-year-old rookie Laurent Brossoit allowed two goals in a relief stint in the third period.

Beau Bennett notched his ninth of the year, but his first of the season at even strength. Bennett is tied for second spot in BCHL goal scoring. Other Vees snipers on the night included Logan Johnston, Matt Paltridge, and Ben Sexton each getting their second goals of the year and Garrett Milan deflecting in his 6th of the year.

The Vees power play was back at it tonight going 3/6 with the man advantage, while the penalty kill negated all five minor penalties. The Vees have now killed off sixteen consecutive advantages for their opponents over four games.

The Vees now sit at 10-2-0-0 on the year, while the Capitals are dropped to 3-6-0-1 with games against Trail, Westside, and Vernon in the next 3 days.

Penticton hosts Vernon on Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre after stopping the Vipers 22 game run of consecutive victories last weekend. The Vipers are the top ranked team in Canada, while the Vees are listed in second slot.

Vees tickets can be purchased at the SOEC box office or at ‘ValleyFirstTix.com’. EZ Rock Broadcasts starts at 6:45.

Luke Curadi may not have said a word at morning skate today, but he’s ready for Vernon.

What the…

Wow

Luke is ready!

There is usually one on every team. Like a court jester, the job is to garner laughter. Jokes keep the mood light, and stories make the bus rides shorter.

On the Vees, that man is Matt Paltridge. The 20-year-old defender from Tecumseh, Ontario may be better with his tongue than he is with his stick.

We caught up with the loquacious one this afternoon to talk Summer, hockey, and other.

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Fan favorite and captain of the 2008 BCHL Champion Vees, Brett Hextall was in Penticton for a few days. After skating with the troops at prep camp Sunday and today, Brett caught up with some old pals for a round of mini golf on his final night in the Okanagan.

I caught up with Vees Assistant Coach Dave Small, local icon Murray Maxwell and Brett on the 5th hole of Loco Landing’s 18 holes.

Sideline reporting, talking hockey, and catching up with Hexy… Enjoy!

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With a few days until the playoffs get going Murray Maxwell and I decided to hit the slopes and have some fun! Murray is a decorated Special Olympian in Alpine Skiing and one of the longest serving members of the Vees.

What a day!

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Some call it ‘Insomnia’, I call it time to hunt for random hockey information on the internet.

Here the top NHL quotes I found last night, errrr… At 4 this morning.

“I told all the boys after, thanks. It’s been a long time”

- DALLAS STARS Goalie Marty Turco after collecting his first win in Joe Louis Arena after posting a (0-8-2) record in his previous 12 starts in Hockeytown.

“It’s a debacle of monumental proportion”

- EDMONTON OILERS Coach Craig MacTavish following a 10-2 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres following the All-Star Weekend (they had fun with this one in Calgary).

“I think that’s probably the problem with his back… He was taking that money to the bank”

- DETROIT RED WINGS Coach Mike Babcock on Henrik Zetterberg missing Thursday’s game with the Stars after signing a 12-year, 72 Million Dollar Contract Extention.

“That’s good. Now I’m the top scoring European on the team”

- CALGARY FLAMES Goalie Miikka Kiprusoff taking a humourous poke at the Flames roster, after he was notified he was credited with an assist in the Flames 5-2 Win over the Sabres. Kiprusoff is the only European on the team.

The regular season would be behind us and the playoffs set to begin.

Here’s how things would look for the Vees and the rest of the Interior Conference.

(1) SALMON ARM - 1st Round Bye - to face winner of (4) vs. (5) in best-of-7

(2) VERNON - 1st Round Bye - to face winner of (3) vs. (6) in best-of-7

(3) PENTICTON vs. PRINCE GEORGE (6) - best-of-5

(4) WESTSIDE vs. TRAIL (5) - best-of-5

GOLF SEASON: QUESNEL & MERRITT

NOTES:

The Vees haven’t lost to the Spruce Kings all season, yet haven’t beaten the Vipers.

The Warriors have beaten the Smokies 4 times in 5 games, but have dropped 3 of 4 with the Silverbacks.

Merritt’s Golf Courses open before Quesnel’s.

1 - Salmon Arm (2)

2 - Westside (7)

3 - Vernon (1)

4 - Penticton Vees (4)

5 - Prince George (6)

6 - Quesnel (5)

7 - Trail (3)

8 - Merritt (8)

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The CJHL’s new National Rankings have been announced.

The mysterious brain trust at CJHL World Headquarters have fallen in love with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and their penchant for scoring goals. The Purple Primates (can somebody explain the Gorilla Name for a hockey team in Salmon Arm… wouldn’t the ‘Salmon Arm Houseboaters’ or ‘Salmon Arm Wharf’ be a more natural fit) lead the BCHL in Goals Scored per Game and have risen to #2.

The Vernon Vipers are finally getting some love this week to as they move from the disrespected masses into the spotlight of the nation’s top 15. If you listen closely you can hear the champagne bottles popping at the north end of the Okanagan.

Powell River fall out of the rankings and the RBC Cup host Victoria Grizzlies remain a mainstay in the weekly list of Canadian Jr. ‘A’ Hockey powers sitting in 14th.

This week’s bonus obscure CJHL team is the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL (Alberta Junior Hockey League).

The Bandits are set to move into a new 1,700 seat arena for the 2009/2010 season featuring luxury boxes and a running track (perfect for working off the calories from your Champagne and Brie Cheese at the intermission).

Brooks is located in SE Alberta on the Trans Canada Highway and is a city of about 15,000 people. The main industries in Brooks are Oil and Gas (it is located on a large gas field) and Agriculture (it houses a large meat packing plant), one can only imagine the alluring scent of commerce in the prairie community!

The Brooks Bandits only current NHLer is Curtis Glencross of the Calgary Flames, the Bandits are currently sitting in 2nd place in the AJHL’s South Division.