vees:blog

BOSTON PIZZA VEES THIS WEEK

We’ll catch up with Sean Bonar from Summerside, PEI following a Canada West 2-1 loss to the Russians on Sunday, also Interior Conference Power Rankings, News and Notes, Fred on Central Scouting’s swing and a miss, and the weekly staples like weekend highlights, the best answering machine in Penticton and our featured intermission conversation of the week.

Tune in from 6:05 to 7:00 on EZ Rock AM 800, MyEZRock.com, or wait until the show is posted on Monday night right here on the Vees Blog.

CJHL NATIONAL RANKINGS

The new weekly National Rankings are out, and whatever the dudes at CJHL headquarters are smoking, they need to cut back.

To illustrate the lack of logic in the CJHL rankings take a closer look at the Vernon Vipers… Since being ranked #1 in the nation, the Vipers have beat the #2 team in the country (which was Penticton at the time), have won 9 consecutive games, have outscored opponents 63-14 over that margin, and yet have fallen to fourth in the country. They’ve lost once since April the 10th playing in the top Junior ‘A’ league in the country.

Why has Vernon fallen from #1??

WJAC UPDATE

With Team Canada West and the USA both 0-1 in the round robin, both have a day off to prepare for Tuesday tilts. The Americans face the Belorussians and the Western boys will face the Swedes - who lost to Russia 3-2 in a shootout earlier today. The Russians advance to Friday’s Semi-Finals with the win having won ‘Group A’.

For more WJAC coverage check out the local fish-wrap in Summerside: the Journal Pioneer

Eddie Gregory joins us to preview Friday’s pending visit from the Burnaby Express (lots of former Vees on that squad). Also we hear from the Head Scout of the Vees, catch highlights of a successful 6-days on Vancouver Island, and pick Coach Fred Harbinson’s brain as we cornered him on the ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver last night.

Who’s leading the Vees in the 3 star standings?? Rock hard hits?? Hardest working honours? Yeah.. we’ve got that too!

‘Vees This Week’ is brought to you by Boston Pizza. Be sure to join us at BP’s on the 3rd of November as the whole team will be in attendance to sign autographs, and we’ll have prizes galore - including a spectacular Canucks prize package including two ticket to a ‘nucks game and a night’s stay in Vancouver. See you there!

Listen Now:

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WJAC DEPARTURES & FAUST’S RETURN

Sean Bonar and Joey LaLeggia are off to PEI today with the rest of Team Canada West for the 2009 World Jr. A Challenge. Team Canada West has 2 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal in the three years that the competition has been in existance… no pressure guys.

Beau Bennett will leave on Wednesday to join Team USA who are the reigning gold medalists.

with Sean Bonar gone to PEI, Billy Faust returns to Penticton today to join the Vees for their next four games. The odd man out in the crease at training camp, Billy has been playing with the Nelson Leafs of the KIJHL, where he 5 wins, a shutout and a GAA of 2.14. Billy and Beau Bennett both played for the LA Jr. Kings (Midget) last year and have come to BC to further their hockey careers. Expect Billy to start at least one of the next four games for the Vees.

DRAFT HYPE

Central Scouting’s NHL watch list has been released and 5 BCHLer have made the preliminary list. While 5 player isn’t a whopping number for the whole league, the fact that the Vees have 3 of the 5 players is an incredible feat.

Beau Bennett has been graded a B prospect, while defenders Luke Curadi and Joey LaLeggia are rated C prospects. Other BCHLers mentioned include Westside Warriors forward Greyson Downing and Langley Chiefs defender Tim Daly.

Central Scoutings give players a grade in the ‘Watch List’, then will release a ‘Mid-Term Rankings’ in January before ‘Final Rankings’ are issued in April.

Speaking with numerous hockey people who know more than I do over the past week, Sean Bonar, and Isaac MacLeod are also garnering all sorts of attention from NHL scouts.

VEES THIS WEEK

We’re back on the air-waves on EZ Rock tonight as Boston Pizza Vees This Week is back after a ‘bye’ week. We’ll chat with Eddie Gregory of the Burnaby Express to preview Friday’s tilt at the SOEC, also new Interior Confernece Power Rankings, Weekend Highlights, a chat with Fred Harbinson after sweeping the Island, and other shenanigans.

CJHL NATIONAL RANKINGS & OTHER NON-SENSE

The Vees fell a spot to fifth in the CJHL National Rankings while Vernon remains at 3rd in the nation. The Kingston Voyageurs (OJAHL) and Dauphin Kings (MJHL) who play in vastly weaker leagues than the BCHL are listed in the top four.

Again, I’ll mention the need for more transparancy in the process of ranking teams from coast to caost. If there is a formula, what is it!?? Is there a ouija board quotient?!

Happy Turkey Day!

While you were watching Monday Night Football or perhaps a 5-goal colapse from the Calgary Flames on Monday night, Murray Maxwell and I were in the EZ Rock studios for the weekly show.

On the program tonight, Interior Conference Power Rankings, Vees Thanksgiving traditions, golf tips with Evan Hammond of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, an alumni NCAA update, a look back at the history of Jr. hockey in Penticton with Al Formo, and highlights of the week that was.

Enjoy your last show for a few weeks, as there won’t be a show next Monday.

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VEES vs. VIPERS

Great to see over 2000 fans at the SOEC last night. Though the game was certainly not ‘wide-open’ (it never is with Vernon’s emphasis on defense), you could see that the skill level was very high on both sides of the ice. Both teams had a fair amount of quality chances (the Vees hit two posts and Trupp missed a yawning cage, and Bonar made multiple big stops on redirected Vernon shots) and those in attendance weren’t disappointed with the quality of hockey and were treated to an extra period.

Denver Manderson’s season long point streak was halted at 12 games. The Vees captain had a glorious chance to stretch his productive run to 13 games in the first period, but could not convert.

Dylan Walchuk impressed me immensely last night. Just 17-years-old and in his first year of Jr. ‘A’, Dylan was noticeable every time he stepped on the ice. Northern Michigan has found a good one in Walchuk.

A note on the three star selection process - we in the broadcast booth (Chad Campbell, Al Formo and myself) are given a sheet to fill out with 3 minutes left in the game. Last night it was tied 1-1 when we had to select the stars. Certainly if we had named the stars following the game’s finish Rob Short would have been on the list and the Vipers would have had two of three stars. It’s not an easy thing to do while you are trying to broadcast a game, never mind when the game’s outcome hasn’t been determined yet, and we probably look a touch silly today because of it.

We called Rob Short a ‘Vees killer’ in the pre-game show last night and in his first game back from injury he certainly lived up to the billing as his OT shot bounced in off a sprawling Vees defender in front of Bonar. ‘Bones’ has allowed just 3 goals in his last 3 games (182 minutes and 30 seconds) and two have banked in off defenders.

Jake Johnson had a heck of a debut for the Vees, as he was full speed all night long and looked very comfy in his new surroundings. His shot off the crossbar in the third period was a laser!

These two clubs won’t meet again until December, I can’t wait!

CENTENNIALS VISIT VEES TONIGHT

Expect a change of pace with the Merritt Centennials in town tonight. While the Vipers have surrendered less than two points a game to their opponents the Cents haven’t been nearly as stingy. Merritt has allowed over 5 goals a game and are tied with Trail as the easiest team to score against in the BCHL.

The Vees lost 5-4 in Merritt two weeks ago with Ben Sexton, Sean Bonar, Garrett Milan, and Joey LaLeggia absent from the contest.

The Vees have killed off 18 consecutive penalties taken heading into tonight’s action and are up to 78% on the year.

Joel Rumpel gets the nod tonight for the Vees. The rookie net-minder’s only loss came in Merritt on the 29th of September, where Joel had a less than stellar outing.

The Vees have ten days with no hockey after tonight’s home game. The Vees next action is on the 21st of October in Victoria, as they make their trip only to Vancouver Island all season. Anything but two points tonight would leave a bitter taste in the mouth and too much time to look in the mirror… Not the best use of a break in the schedule.

THANKSGIVING

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all who have stopped by the Vees Blog. While I’ll miss the big bird with the family in Calgary this weekend, I’m heading back to the City of Cow on Tuesday for some quality time with the fam.

All the best to you and yours on Thanksgiving, as Vees fans we certainly have been treated to quite an opening of the season. Be with the ones you love and enjoy the stuffing, gravy and pumpkin pie!

For the Vees Thanksgiving traditions be sure to tune into ‘Boston Pizza Vees This Week’ on Monday night, as we find out what’s on the dinner table around across the country at the homes of the Vees. It’s mouthwatering radio!

Fixtures: The Interior conference power rankings, game highlights, BCHL news, and Murray’s answering Machine.

Also, we catch up on Robert Skinner’s whereabouts with Rob Facca of Northern Michigan, meet Californian rookie sensation Beau Bennett, and talk with HC/GM Fred Harbinson after a big win over Vernon.

******** Sorry for the late posting. In related news, the Barley Mill Canucks suffered a disheartening loss on Monday…

Listen Now:

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Lots on the program this week. Murray Maxwell joined me in studio on a busy week in Vees-land.

We had highlights from the week that was, Caught up with WJAC Team Canada West Coach Rylan Ferster, as well as Joey LaLeggia and Garrett Milan. Also Beau Bennett tells us how excited he is to line up accross from his teammates as he dawns the Red, White, and Blue for team USA.

LaLeggia, Bonar, and Milan are in Okotoks, AB today

Zac Dalpe drops by to give us an update on Devon Krogh’s ‘flow’ at Ohio State, The Interior Conference Power Rankings are altered with Trail’s 1st win of the year, and Brian Wiebe helps us tee up Tuesday’s game in Merritt.

Boston Pizza Vees this week airs Monday’s on EZ Rock AM 800 and at MyEZRock.com from 6-7 (after the news). Also the show will be posted to the Blog before 8PM PST on Monday’s.

Listen Now:

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Your favorite Vees radio program is back on-the-air tonight!

Expect highlights from the weekend, a preview of Wednesday’s Vees vs. Trail Smoke Eaters, interviews with Jim Johnson and Randy Sexton, Interior Conference Power Rankings, thoughts from the coach and players, and more relevant BCHL chatter.

Catch ‘Boston Pizza Vees This Week’ at 6PM (PST) on EZ Rock AM 800 in Penticton, and at MyEZRock.com. The full episode will be posted to the blog later on Monday Night for your ‘on demand’ needs.