Murray is back in studio as we are posed with the dilemma of what to do on the heels of two losses to the Westside Warriors. The Vees had won 10-in-a-row heading into Friday’s action and have now lost two straight for the first time this season.
Baseball enthusiast and Salmon Arm Silverback voice Patrick Haas helps us tee up Wednesday’s tilt between the Vees and ‘backs, and pumps the tires of Jason Bay.
Also on the program we hear from Westside Warriors Prez/GM/Managing Partner (read: CZAR) Gary Gelinas on desparity between rich and poor in the BCHL, a new chapter in the history of the Warriors, and the growing South Okanagan rivalry.
The staples (Interior Conference Power Rankings, Murray’s Answering Machine & Highlights) are also in the mix, as well as some great news for Joey Holka and Logan Johnston and the usual tomfoolery.
It’s our last show for a couple weeks, so get your fill of Vees chatter before a brief hiatus.
After suffering just their 3rd regulation loss of the season, the Penticton Vees won’t have any issues identifying why they ended up losing 5-4 last night in Penticton. On the flip-side of the coin, the blue, black and white know exactly where they’ll need to be better if they want a road win tonight.
1) A Slow Start: The Vees had just 3 shots in the first period last night and while they did have possession in the Westside end, they did not make an emphasis of putting the puck on net in the first period. When the Vees were getting pucks to the net later in the game, they were great. In the final 40 minutes they out-shot the 34 to 18 and looked like a hungrier hockey team than they did in the first.
2) The Goaltending Battle: No doubt that Kevin Jebson was the better ‘tender last night at the SOEC. Sean Bonar’s 2009/2010 season has been dazzling, but he’d be the first to tell you last night he wasn’t sharp. Sean’s status as the Vees #1 and a candidate for Top Goalie in the BCHL haven’t changed since last night’s game, and I expect Fred Harbinson to go right back with ‘Bones’ tonight. If the Bonar can out-duel Jebson, it’s tough to see the Vees losing this game.
3) Top Line Battle: As good as the Vees top line was at time last night they were outscored 4-1 at even strength. Shutdown Bailey’s line and the Vees are in good shape. They couldn’t do it last night at home with last change. Can they do it tonight with Darren Yopyk getting to match lines?
HOLKA ON (ST.) CLOUD 9
19-year-old forward Joey Holka has committed to St. Cloud State for the 2011/2012 season. File this under ‘win-win-win situtation’ Joey gets a scholly to a fantastic NCAA hockey program in a state that lives and breathes hockey (Minnesota), the Vees get to keep Joey for next season where he’ll be a monster in the BCHL as a 20-year-old power forward, and St. Cloud State gets a player they now will be ready for the WCHA when he arrives (they also know the coach fairly well).
Heading into training camp I had no idea what Joey’s role would be withe the club. After a fantastic off-season in Phoenix he’s without question the most improved Vees player from last season. Congrats to Joey.
LOCAL LOGAN
The man who smiles when he fights has been given a letter by the Vees. Pentictonite Logan Johnston was named ‘A’lternate Captain of the Vees on Wednesday immediately after Adam Zamec’s departure.
Logan is a character guy who has always been tough and defended team-mates, but is now an integral part of the team’s success. A PK specialist, shutdown forward, and a bone-rattling power forward; Logan has also added an offensive touch this season (7-9-16).
Johnston (the 2nd) is a great choice for an alternate captain, and a player the city of Penticton should be very proud of.
Vees Head Coach and General Manager Fred Harbinson has traded Adam Zamec to the Wellington Dukes of the CCHL (Central Canadian Hockey League) for future considerations.
The second year, 20-year-old forward had a goal and two assists in 11 games this season after a late start due to off season surgery. Named an alternate captain last year, Zamec’s best year of junior was in ‘07/’08 when he scored 17 goals for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL after being traded from Kitchener.
TRUPP TERIFFIC
Evan Trupp has been named a WCHA Player of the Week after recording three goals in two weekend games.
SMITH NAMED TOP RAIDER
Austin Smith was named the Colgate Raiders Male Athlete of the Week after a three goal weekend. Smith was a member of the ‘07/’08 BCHL Champions, and is the only Dallas born hockey player to be drafted by the Stars.
Highlights from the weekend that was include a massive explosion of goals from Vees Alumni. Steve Cameron (Mercyhurst) , Travis Ouellette (Ferris State), and Evan Trupp (North Dakota) all had three goal weekends, while Austin Smith (Colgate) led the way with four points. Notching the first goals of their NCAA careers were former line-mates Eric Kroshus (Harvard) and Cory Schneider (Ohio State) from the 2008 Fred Page Champion Vees.
Vees Alums combined for 16 goals this weekend! Not too shabby.
Cory Schneider who is shown here jockeying for position with former member of the Vees TJ Miller.
Brennan Barker D (SR, Alabama-Huntsville) - 8GP 0-3-3 8PIM
Anthony Borelli G (FR, Brown) - Has Not Played
Steve Cameron F (JR, Mercyhurst) - 10GP 7-3-10 6PIM
Cody Collins F (SR, Mercyhurst) - 10GP 2-2-4 0PIM
Deron Cousens D (JR, Michigan Tech) - 8GP 1-1-2 6PIM
Zac Dalpe F (SO, Ohio State) - 9GP 3-4-7 0PIM
Alex Evin G (SO, Colgate) - 5GP (1-1-2) 3.45 .883
Brett Hextall F (SO, North Dakota) - 7GP 2-0-2 18PIM
Tanner House F (JR, Maine) - 4GP 2-1-3 2PIM
Zack Josepher D (FR, Michigan State) - 8GP 2-2-4 10PIM
Devon Krogh D (FR, Ohio State) - 7GP 0-2-2 2PIM
Eric Kroshus F (SO, Harvard) - 1 Goal - Stats unavailable?!
Justin Krueger D (SR, Cornell) - 3GP 0-0-0 4PIM
Brian Lebler F (SR, Michigan) - 8GP 1-3-4 10PIM
Alex MacLeod F (SO, Michigan Tech) - 7GP 2-2-4 10PIM
Bryant Molle D (JR, Alaska-Fairbanks) - 8GP 0-1-1 4PIM
Curtis McKenzie F (FR, Miami-Ohio) - 10GP 3-5-8 24PIM
Cory Milan G (JR, Union) - 8GP (3-2-3) 2.63 .903
TJ Miller D (SR, Northern Michigan) - 6GP 0-1-1 4PIM
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) - 7GP 0-2-2 2PIM
Travis Ouellette F (FR, Ferris State) - 9GP 5-1-6 4PIM
Just three teams remain in the hunt for gold at the world Jr A Challenge in Summerside, PEI.
Beau Bennett scored this morning against Russia
The defending champions from the USA are through to the gold medal game after hopping out to a commanding 4-0 lead on the way to a 6-3 victory over the Russians earlier today.
Beau Bennett had a goal in the third period for the American side.
Sean Bonar stretches to make a stop for Canada West
In an all Canadian match-up this afternoon (3PM PST), East will be pitted against West with a trip to the gold medal game on the line. Canada East has been perfect since the puck dropped in exhibition, while Canada West is rounding into form having outscored their opponents 13-6 in back-to-back wins over Sweden and Belarus.
Joey LaLeggia (4 assists) and Beau Bennett (3 goals, 1 assist) each have 4 points and sit in the top 10 in tournament scoring, while Sean Bonar is tied for the tournament lead with a pair of wins. Bonar has a save percentage of .897 and a goals against average of 2.68.
***UPDATE***
Team Canada West plastered Team Canada East 9-1… Ugly. So it will be the match-up featuring all three Vees in the gold medal game as Beau Bennett and Team USA will face Joey LaLeggia, Sean Bonar and Team Canada West.
VEES vs. LANGLEY
For the third time in two seasons, the Langley Chiefs will see the Penticton Vees without their best players. Last season the Chiefs beat a Vees club that was missing Brodie Reid, Curtis McKenzie and Denver Manderson in in their only meeting of the season, while this season’s home-and-home today and tomorrow will be missing Vees puck stopper Sean Bonar, D-man Joey LaLeggia, and super-rook Beau Bennett. Also, out for the Vees is Bruins draft pick Ben Sexton who suffered an upper body injury in Alberni on October 25th.
The last time the Vees played the Chiefs outside of the WJAC, was back in 2007 when the team got in an accident on the way to the rink, delayed the start of the game and then promptly shellacked the home side in one of their most thorough efforts of that championship season.
A player to watch tonight for the Chiefs is rookie defender Tim Daly. The 18-year-old 17-year-old is one of just five BCHL players on the NHL Watch List (a list of draft eligible prospects that NHL Central Scouting throws together every Fall). Also, Daly has just committed to St. Cloud State of the WCHA (NCAA), where Fred Harbinson served as assistant coach before arriving the Okanagan.
Jake Johnson has been especially productive for the Vees since arriving from the Sioux City Muskateers of the USHL. The 20-year-old from Minnesota has 9 points in 8 games with the Vees and will be looking to extend his point streak to 8 games tonight.
Langley has been lurking in the weeds in the Coastal Conference, quietly putting together a tidy winning percentage of .650 with teams like Powell River and Surrey getting all the limelight and attention. The Chiefs have a sparkling 6-2-1-0 record at their new rink - The Langley Events Centre, while the Vees are the BCHL’s best on home ice having gone 8-0-0-1 at the SOEC.
Here’s a sneak-peek at Langley’s barn courtesy of broadcaster/blogger/funny-man Evan Hammond of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Pre-game broadcast starts at 6:45 with Al Formo and myself on EZ Rock in the South Okanagan and Similkameen, MyEZRock.com, the BCHL.ca Audio Scoreboard, and the BCHL Pay-Per-View.
* Randy Sexton (father of Ben) has finally had the interim tag dropped and been named the new GM of the Florida Panthers. Here’s the press conference from earlier today in Helsinki.
* The Ohio State Buckeyes are a team full of Vees Alumni. Zac Dalpe & Cory Schneider are entering their sophomore season, Devon Krogh is a freshman this year, and down the road current Vees Forward Alex Szczechura will be attending OSU. Other BCHL grads on the Buckeyes include Juniors Hunter Bishop (Vernon) & Erick Belanger (Nanaimo), as well as Sophomore Taylor Stephishen (Langley).
Here’s Zac on the expectation for the Buckeyes this season:
* Another NCAA team laden with BCHLers is the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Junior Evan Trupp (older brother of current Vees forward Hayden) and Sophomore Brett Hextall - the captain of the 2007/2008 Fred Page Cup Champions - play with Seniors Chay Genoway (Vernon) and Darcy Zajac (Salmon Arm).
* Trail is not a team to be taken lightly by the Vees tonight. The Smokies offense has finally woken up after scoring just 10 goals in their first six games of the year. The Orange & Black beat Williams Lake on Sunday and tied Salmon Arm on Tuesday Night and scored 12 goals in the two games.
* Adam Zamec appears to be close to a return in the Vees line-up. Though I doubt he’ll hit the ice this weekend, I wouldn’t be shocked if he made his debut on Wednesday at home against Cowichan.
* Al Formo is back on the broadcast tonight, and we’ll be joined by Chad Campbell in the pre-game show and 2nd intermission. Puck hits ice at 7:05 and the pre-game show on EZ Rock starts at 6:45 (PST… for you long distance fans). If you aren’t listening on EZ Rock in the South Okanagan or Similkameen, you can hop online to MyEZRock.com or swing by the BCHL’s audio scoreboard at BCHL.ca. Finally, if you are in the SOEC at the game you can tune into 105.5 FM to catch the braodcast.
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!
No kegs or beer-pong here. Just 16 of the top college hockey teams in the States doing battle in the opening weekend of the ‘Frozen Four’.
Of the 7 NCAA (Div I) grads from last year’s 2007/2008 Championship Vees, all three players who qualified for the National Championship are active in the Northeast Bracket. Ohio State earned the final ‘at large’ bid to the tournament and will face Boston University Terriers - the top seed in the Bracket. The Ohio State Buckeyes have 5 BCHL alumni in their youthful line-up: Former Vernon Viper sniper Hunter Bishop, Nanaimo defender Erick Belanger and skilled Langley forward Taylor Stefishan are joined by Penticton Vees Zac Dalpe and Cory Schneider.
The other match-up of the Northeast Bracket being played in Manchester, New Hampshire sees former Vees Captain Brett Hextall and the North Dakota Fighting Sioux facing a lower ranked, but heavily supported New Hampshire Wildcats team playing in their home State. Hextall and former Vees forward Evan Trupp are just two parts of a team that was the hottest in the WCHA from Fall on, and actually closed out the regular season as the top team in the conference. Quite a feat considering the after the Fighting Sioux won just 5 of their first 14 games.
A win for the Buckeyes and Sioux on Saturday would make for quite a game on Sunday for Dalpe, Schneider and Hextall. Hextall and Dalpe were inseparable on the ice last year, while Schneider and Hextall not only played in Penticton together, but also at Northwood School. In fact, last season the trio were all on the same line for nearly half a season for the Vees last year.
3 Vees from last year’s Fred Page Cup Champions will be active in the tournament of the top 16 teams in the States.
Zac Dalpe and Cory Schneider will see tournament play in their rookie seasons as the Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked #4 (of 4) in the Northeast Bracket. Schneider has to overcome a mid-season injury and fight his way back into the line-up (2 points in 16 games) while Dalpe was 5th in team scoring with 13 goals and 12 assists in 36 games. Former Vernon Viper Hunter Bishop has 29 points in 41 games for the Buckeyes.
Last year’s captain Brett Hextall and former Vees teammate of 2006/2007 Evan Trupp have got the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota a #2 seed and also happen to play in the Northeast bracket.
Brad Thiessen has been backstopped the Northeastern Huskies to a tournament bid, and looks like a strong candidate for the Hobey Baker. Thiessen was named the Hockey East Player of the Year and has his own site lobbying for more hardware. The Huskies are a 2nd seed in the Midwest Bracket.
Other Notables:
Pentictonite and former Panther Brian Lebler’s Michigan squad will be at the big dance too, the Wolverines have the top spot in the East Bracket.
Euro Justin Krueger - a former Vees D-man - is in with Cornell. The Big Red are #3 in the Midwest Bracket.
