vees:blog

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.

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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.

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Here’s a look at some interesting numbers from the Vees 2009/2010 roster as it stands.

1 - 16-year-old (Stephan Nicolishen)

1 - Player remaining from the 2007/2008 BCHL Champion Vees (Denver Manderson)

2 - Players from Saskachewan (Byron Sorensen, Joel Rumpel), Quebec (J.C. Lirette, Eric Filiou), and Minnesota (Derik Johnson, Bo Dolan)

3 - 17-year-olds (Hayden Trupp, Isaac MacLeod, Joey LaLeggia)

3 - Players from the Greater Vancouver Area (LaLeggia, Sean Bonar, Mitch Jones)

4 - 19-year-olds (Joey Holka, Johnson, Alex Szczechura, Dolan)

4 - Players with Major Junior Experience (Manderson, Matt Paltridge, J.C.Lirette, Adam Zamec)

6 - Americans (Luke Curadi, Dolan, Johnson, Beau Bennett, Trupp, Joey Holka)

6 - Players graduating from Midget Hockey (LaLeggia, Trupp, Bennett, Rumpel, Sorensen, Nicholishen)

6 - 20-year-olds, which is the league maximum (Manderson, Lirette, Zamec, Paltridge, Filiou, Ryan Viselli)

6 - BC products on the roster (Bonar, Milan, Jones, LaLeggia, MacLeod, Johnston)

7 - Players from Ontario (Nicholishen, Manderson, Ben Sexton, Szczechura, Paltridge, Viselli, Zamec)

8 - Imports, which is the league maximum (Bennett, Curadi, Rumpel, Sorensen, Sexton, Lirette, Szczechura, Dolan)

9 - Returning players (Manderson, Milan, Zamec, Paltridge, Johnson, Johnston, Holka, Bonar, Viselli)

9 - 18-year-olds (Bonar, Jones, Sorensen, Johnston, Milan, Sexton, Rumpel, Curadi, Bennett)

10 - Rookies (Curadi, Bennett, Szczechura, Jones, MacLeod, Sonrensen, Rumpel, Trupp, Nicholishen, LaLeggia)

14 - Newcomers (all but the 9 returning players!)

OTHER ROSTER NOTES

FORWARDS

Steve Iacobellis

Veterans Forwards Mitch Lebreche (Powell River Kings, BCHL) and Erik Slemp (Camrose Kodiaks, AJHL) were moved with the log-jam of talented forwards. Jeff Johnson has gone back to the Maritimes, and Mike Bosco has headed back to the US after unsuccessful bids to make the club. Steve Iacobellis is back to the Vancouver Major Midget Giants after an impressive pre-season. J.C. Lirette has yet to suit up for the Vees, after being acquired for L.P. Boucher. Mitch Jones earned a spot as a versatile player, as he plays both forward and defense. Adam Zamec has also not played a game yet this year as he is recovering from injury.

DEFENDERS

Bo Dolan

A very talented group though perhaps a touch raw, this was a tough group to crack. Bob Pond will likely surface in Junior A soon, but didn’t do enough to steal one of the 7 roster spots. Bo Dolan was the surprise of the pre-season to me as his well rounded game (hits, skates, fights, distributes) earned him a spot despite being an import. Mitch Jones (as mentioned above) will play on the back end when injuries and scheduling provide him that opportunity. Isaac MacLeod has yet to suit up in game play but is practicing with the team as he recovers from injury.

GOALIES

Billy Faust

Billy Faust was the odd man out after a hard fought battle with Joel Rumpel for the right to back up Sean Bonar. Faust will play for the Nelson Leafs this year with designs on playing a ton and being the man here in Penticton next season. The Leafs have a great history of turning out solid Junior net-minders such as Grant Rollheisier (who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008) with Bill McDonnell as their goaltending coach. Bonar has yet to play this season, but is ready for game action.

Vees HC/GM Fred Harbinson & Kings HC/GM Kent Lewis on this afternoon’s tilt.

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PRACKY

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).

VEES BRANTFORD ROOTS

The Brantford Golden Eagles are already missing Alex Szczechura, and why not? When you record 33 goals and 25 assists in 23 playoff games (WOW!), enroute to a provincial championship, folks get a little misty eyed when you leave town.

Szczechura is not unlike another former Golden Eagle and Vees winger, who he may skate with next season at Ohio State.

WHISTLER’S BEST?

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.

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Here’s our first poll of the season.

[If you’re going to select ‘Other’ be sure to write in the name of your selection]

Just a refresher (by the way) of what the last poll we conducted showed waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in Spring following the Vees second round elimination at the hands of the National Champion Vernon Vipers.

With the training camp roster whittled down to 39 players today (there were five players - 16 & 17 years of age - snipped last night) competition found another peak in scrimmage. Physicality and pace were noticeably higher than Monday’s opening ice time.

This afternoon’s skate marked the final intersquad game of training camp, and the third of three consecutive days with two games (ice bag, anyone?).

NOTES

* Teams Orange and White each played with 12 forwards and 6 D-men, while the trio of goalies played two periods each.

* In the morning skate injuries were the storyline, as a stick to the throat, and a few heavy hits sidelined players temporarily.

* Ben Sexton is looking more and more lethal with each passing game. I can’t say enough about his finishing skills.

* Sean Bonar had his best day of camp emulating a brick wall in both scrimmages. Aspiring Vees Faust and Rumpel also looked strong, and will likely both get a start in Trail.

* Denver Manderson was uncharacteristically 0 for 2 on penalty shots (the team chose them rather than man advantages).

* The team made cuts tonight and practice tomorrow will have 30 bodies (nine fewer than the games today).

* The team bus leaves for Trail early Friday morning. On Friday the team plays Powell River at 4PM, Saturday it’s Brooks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League at 4PM, and Sunday the squad will face Trail at 2PM before heading back to the Okanagan. [All times PST for you long distance fans]

* Expect a minimal number of vets on the ice in the Kootenays this weekend as game action will likely determine the next round of cuts for the Vees. Also, kids looking for college scholarships will be on display, as Cominco Arena in Trail will be swimming with scouts. Again, I’ll be live blogging all Vees games in Trail right here at the Vees Blog.

PHOTOS -> (more…)

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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