vees:blog

Check out Denver Manderson’s player profile with Bernie Pascall.

Denver - in his 3rd year with the Vees - has been in the spotlight after a sensational start to his 20-year-old season. The captain is on pace for 129 points and is in the thick of the scoring race with Salmon Arm’s Mark Zengerle.

The World Jr. A Challenge has wrapped up from Summerside, PEI where team USA beat Canada West 2-1 in the gold medal game.

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.

The Penticton Vees needed a late goal on the power play but have won their ninth game in a row with a tight 2-1 decision in Langley on Saturday Night.

After trading goals in the first period of play the Vees and Chiefs were deadlocked at one apiece for over half the game before Alex Szczechura put the Vees ahead on the power play with just 2:44 remaining in the game.

Bo Dolan registered a pair of assist and Logan Johnston wacked in his 6th of the season in low scoring second meeting between these teams in as many days. Denver Manderson stretched his point streak to 9 games with an assist on the winner and Isaac MacLeod also had a helper in the Vees 19th win of the season.

Joel Rumpel set aside 24 of 25 shots to earn his third win since Sean Bonar departed for the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. Andrew Walsh was much improved for the Chiefs on Saturday, as he stopped 27 of 29 shots a night after allowing seven goals.

The Vees power play ended up 1/9 on the night, while they killed every penalty they took.

The Vees are now 19-2-0-1 to start the season, but haven’t been able to gain any ground on the Vernon Vipers who beat Quesnel on Saturday night and haven’t lost since September.

Next action for the Vees comes on Wednesday as they host the Victoria Grizzlies at 7:05 at the SOEC.

Highlights from the NCAA this weekend include:

Steve Cameron posting a three point game for the Mercyhurst Lakers in a 6-4 win over the Bentley Falcolns on Saturday.

Austin Smith potted a pair on Saturday and had a four point weekend to take over the team lead in scoring as the Colgate Raiders tied the Army Black Knights and beat the Ferris State Bulldogs.

Also, it appears Curtis McKenzie hasn’t forgotten how to play the body since his graduation from the BCHL.

Brennan Barker D (SR, Alabama-Huntsville) - 8GP 0-3-3 8PIM

Anthony Borelli G (FR, Brown) - Has Not Played

Steve Cameron F (JR, Mercyhurst) - 8GP 4-3-7 4PIM

Cody Collins F (SR, Mercyhurst) - 8GP 1-2-3 0PIM

Deron Cousens D (JR, Michigan Tech) - 6GP 1-1-2 6PIM

Zac Dalpe F (SO, Ohio State) - 7GP 2-4-6 0PIM

Alex Evin G (SO, Colgate) - 4GP (1-1-2) 2.92 .896

Brett Hextall F (SO, North Dakota) - 6GP 2-0-2 18PIM

Tanner House F (JR, Maine) - 3GP 2-0-2 2PIM

Zack Josepher D (FR, Michigan State) - 7GP 2-2-4 4PIM

Devon Krogh D (FR, Ohio State) - 6GP 0-2-2 0PIM

Eric Kroshus F (SO, Harvard) - Has Not Played

Justin Krueger D (SR, Cornell) - 1GP 0-0-0 0PIM

Brian Lebler F (SR, Michigan) - 6GP 1-3-4 8PIM

Alex MacLeod F (SO, Michigan Tech) - 6GP 2-2-4 4PIM

Bryant Molle D (JR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 6GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Curtis McKenzie F (FR, Miami-Ohio) - 6GP 2-3-5 12PIM

Cory Milan G (JR, Union) - 6GP (3-2-1) 2.57 .907

TJ Miller D (SR, Northern Michigan) - 4GP 0-0-0 2PIM

Trevor Nill F (SO, Michigan State) - 6GP 0-0-0 8PIM

Bryan Mountain G (FR, Northeastern) - Has Not Played

Kaare Odegard D (FR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 5GP 0-1-1 2PIM

Travis Ouellette F (FR, Ferris State) - 5GP 2-0-2 2PIM

Cory Schneider F (SO, Ohio State)- 7GP 0-2-2 0PIM

Austin Smith F (SO, Colgate) - 7GP 4-3-7 8PIM

Evan Trupp F (JR, North Dakota) - 6GP 1-4-5 2PIM

Brent Vandenberg F (FR, Niagara) - 5GP 1-1-2 2PIM

16-year-old Vees forward Stephan Nicholishen has committed to the University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks.

Nicholishen, the youngest member of the Vees, has yet to record a point in his first year in the BCHL.

Currently Nebraska Omaha competes in the CCHA (Div. 1 NCAA), but by the time Stephan arrives in Omaha the Mavericks will be playing in the WCHA.

The Vees currently have 8 players with NCAA commitments.

I spoke with the 215 pound power forward about the news prior to practice today.

Listen Now:

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For 20 Thursdays throughout the hockey season, we’re inviting you - the fans - to come down and talk hockey with the Head Coach and GM of the Penticton Vees Fred Harbinson.

We’re calling it Coach’s Corner and we’re encouraging you to show up and ask questions of the 2008 Coach of the Year in the BCHL.

The local sports media will be in attendance as we tee-up the weekend ahead and Cannery Brewing’s finest will be on special.

Join us at the KVS Pub at 6PM tomorrow as we talk about an upcoming home-and-home with the Westside Warriors and talk production with Vees 20-year-old Captain Denver Manderson.

Listen Now:

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Scott Odegard and Roland Slemp were at practice today to watch son’s Kaare and Erik. The Slemps and Odegards have seen each other at rinks for ages now starting back in minor hockey in Red Deer.

Erik was acquired in the Fall from Drumheller Dragons while Kaare was added in early January from the Canmore Eagles. Both were members of a legendary Red Deer Cheifs Midget team of a few years ago.

The pals have both committed to Alaska Fairbanks, where they’ll shack up as room-mates in the 49th state.

A Calgarian myself, we talk AJHL vs. BCHL, Telus Cup and more!

Listen Now:

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LEAGUE AWARDS

The BCHL announced their Conference Award Winners today and Vees buzz-saw Garrett Milan will have to make room for another trophy on the mantle. The 17-year-old was named the Interior Conferenece rookie of the year for his 25 goal 32 assist effort this season.

Milan was named the Vees R.O.Y. on Thurday as well as the Most Inspirational Award and the Fan Favorite Award. Milan finished 2nd in team scoring behind Curtis McKenzie and tied with Denver Manderson with 57 points.

Here is the BCHL’s webpage on the 2008/2009 Award Winners.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks have been dropped from the CJHL National Rankings after stumbling through the final few weeks of the regular season. The ‘backs end the season losing 3 of 4 games, and have seen their potent offensive attack slowed as opponents key on their superb top line.

The Gorillas have been a fixture in the Top 15 for months but garnered just an ‘Honorable Mention’ this week.

Here’s a look at the CJHL TOP 15

PLAYOFF BRACKET

The BCHL’s Fred Page Cup Playoffs begin this Friday with 8 teams in action and four enjoying byes. Last season the Vees had a 1st Round Bye, Beat Vernon in 7 Games, Swept Westside, and Swept Nanaimo in the Final.

Here is the ominous Playoff Brackett.

For Vees Playoff Tickets visit the SOEC Box Office or visit ValleyFirstTix.com

BOSTON PIZZA VEES THIS WEEK

Tonight on the weekly program we tee up the 1st round of the BCHL playoffs with an in-depth look at the Island Division with Evan Hammond (Alberni Bulldogs Voice), the Mainland Division with Eddie Gregory (Burnaby Express Voice), the 3 vs. 6 match-up with Shawn Mullin (Smokies Voice), and of course we’ll tee up the Spruce Kings and Vees. Also the usual Highlights and News & Notes.

Boston Pizza Vees This Week airs from 6-7 on EZ ROCK AM 800, myezrock.com, and in the BCHL’s fanzone.

ALUMNI UPDATE

NCAA DIV I Brett Hextall had a two-point weekend for North Dakota to bump his season numbers to (9-10-19) in 33 Games… Cory Schneider returned to the line-up after suffering an injury in December… Austin Smith scored his 12th goal in 32 games… Trevor Nill played but recorded no points this weekend for Michigan State… Alex Evin didn’t get a start this weekend… Zac Dalpe added his 9th assist this weekend to go with 13 goals… Eric Kroshus continues to play well in 2009 recording his 6th assist of the season for the Crimson…

CIS Nic Knudsen’s Concordia club (CIS) is in the 1st round of the playoffs and split their opening pair with Carleton and ‘The Beast’ had 1 assist and 4 PIM… Coach Aaron Wilbur had the reigns in Calgary and led the UBC Thunderbirds to a 4 point weekend over the Dinos to qualify for the post-season in the last weekend of play…

NCAA DIV III Michael Guzzo had 1 assist last week and has 22 points with Curry College…

GERMANY DIV III Michael Hengen has 28 points in 36 games with the Deggendorf Fire…

‘Tis the season of delayed flights, wind chill, and power outages…

With the Vees Blog stuck at the Kelowna Airport at this unfathomable hour (its 05:52 PST) nursing a coffee and eyeing a multiple hour flight delay, I’ve surrendered a third of my net worth for a 24 hour wireless internet pass (thanks to the Scrooges at Rogers Hotspot) and the opportunity to update the Blog!

Merritt After Dark!

Upon arriving at the Nicola Valley Arena in Merritt last night the Vees were informed that the Arena had no power. I’d love to tell you that the Vees players and staff were shocked and dismayed, but for some reason nobody was surprised. After an hour of taping sticks by cellphone light, the game was called. The Cents have apparently enacted Murphy’s Law for the 2008-2009 campaign.

On the bright side, a world record may have been set as 1,359 people crammed into the Merritt Subway. Located just across the street, somehow Subway had power and heat (it was -30) when the rink didn’t, but they were out of Parmesan Oregano Bread. The game will be rescheduled later in the season… I CAN’T WAIT!

HNIC Experiment & Misc. Habs Info

With the game in Merritt postponed, one lonely play-by-play hack found himself with no work on a Saturday Night for the first time since October 18th (I have no social life). Curious about what a Saturday Night away from the Arena is like I ventured to Sturgeon Hall in Kelowna.

[If you are ever in Kelowna and the Habs are playing on TV I demand you go to Sturgeon Hall… They have a Maurice Richard Burger among other famous Habs appearances on the Menu and a surprisingly large contingent of Canadiens Fans]

There was no Habs game on the tube on this night, though with the Canucks hosting the Blackhawks for the 2nd game on Hockey Night in Canada I could still conduct my experiment on the effects of combining hockey on TV and Big Rock Traditional Ale. The results were fantastic!

If you haven’t been talking about the Blackhawks this year, it is time to start doing so! They have now won 7 in a row (their longest streak in nearly 28 years) and are showing poise late in games. The Hawks are dripping with young talent with Towes, Kane, Sharp, Keith (former Panther!), Versteeg & Seabrook (teammates from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL), among others, but I was particularly impressed with depth of the club and their ability to hold off a late surge from the Canucks. The Winter Classic from Chicago should live up to it’s title on Jan 1st.

View from the Top

The Vipers and Silverbacks played round 2 of 4 straight last night, with the Vipers winning 6-4.

The Jones Twins (or the ‘Conner Twins’ as Al Formo calls them) had a night at the Sunwave Centre racking up 3 points each (as did linemate Bryce Kakoske) the whole line was named as the 3 stars.

I think Vernon is the stronger of the two clubs with a slight edge in the net and in depth up front. That makes the Vipers a tougher team to play in a 7 games series in March (and likely April and May too).

The Silverbacks now lead the Vipers by just 3 points at the top of the Interior Standings with the next 2 of the 4 consecutive meetings going down on the 29th (@SA) and 30th (@VRN).

21 +

With the Merritt game postponed until after X-mas, the Vees have 21 games left on the sched… here’s the breakdown.

4 x Vernon (2 home, 2 away)

4 x Salmon Arm (2 home, 2 away)

3 x Prince George (2 home, 1 away)

3 x Quesnel (2 home, 1 away)

2 x Westside (1 home, 1 away)

2 x Trail (2 home, 0 away)

2 x Merritt (0 home, 2 away)

1 x Nanaimo (1 home, 0 away)

With 12 of 21 left at home, post-holiday play will be exciting, who knows where the Vees will finish?!

Hextall Helping Fighting Sioux

Last year’s captain is making an impression south of the border. Brett Hextall was named the WCHA rookie of the week for the final week of pre-holiday NCAA action as his North Dakota Fighting Sioux swept the St. Cloud State Huskies (where Fred Harbinson spent 5 years as an Assistant Coach). Hextall called his former coach earlier the week for a ribbing!

Holiday Best!

With Mother Nature toying with travelers all over the continent, many Vees players are trapped in airports and/or waiting for runways to be cleared (my flight to Seattle just got moved back another hour!). Hopefully all will be safe and sound at home in short order to spend time with loved ones.

Enjoy the holidays and thanks for visiting the Blog! See you after X-mas!

Fred Harbinson has quite a decision to make prior to Friday’s season opener in Westside. Namely, WHO WILL WEAR THE ‘C’?

Let’s narrow the field of 23 to those that have played a season of Junior ‘A’ Hockey, that leaves us with the following candidates. All the players mentioned played with the Vees last season with the exception of David Andreassen (Camrose Kodiaks), Brent Vandenberg (Burlington Cougars), and Brad Reid (Victoria Grizzlies).