Former Vees auditioning for NHL teams
Former Penticton Vees scoring star Scott Conway gave a strong account of himself at the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp.
Conway was invited to the 42-player camp — held July 2-5 at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, Que. — on a tryout basis.
The 22-year-old centre from Basinstoke, England, just finished up a superb freshman season at Providence College where he collected 12 goals and 23 points in 38 games.
Conway starred for the Vees in 2015-16, racking up 56 goals and 116 points in 56 games, and adding another nine goals and 16 points in 11 playoff games.
Another Vees alumnus, 26-year-old centre Ben Sexton, signed a two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators earlier this week.
It’s a homecoming for the hard-nosed forward, who was born in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata.
Sexton was originally picked by the Boston Bruins in the seventh round, 206th overall in the 2009 Entry Draft. After four years at Clarkson University, he went on to play three seasons with Boston’s AHL affiliate in Providence and last season with the AHL’s Albany River Rats.
Sexton played for the Vees in 2009-10, logging 13 goals and 42 points along with 83 penalty minutes in 50 games.
And former Vees scoring sensation Beau Bennett is on the move again, signing a one-year, $650,000 free-agent deal with the St. Louis Blues.
Bennett, a 25-year-old right-winger from Gardena, Calif., has suffered through a rash of injuries since being picked in the first round, 20th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2010 draft.
Bennett played for the New Jersey Devils last year, garnering eight goals and 19 points in 65 games. The Devils did not make him a qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.
Like Conway, Bennett’s one season in Penticton was a magnificent one as he collected 41 goals and 120 points in 56 games to win the BCHL scoring title in 2009-10. He played two seasons at the University of Denver before turning pro.