Vees land another top prospect, forward Shepard
As one young prospect committed to the Penticton Vees for next season, a veteran committed to an NCAA Division 1 university on a scholarship starting next fall.
Cole Shepard, a 2002-born forward from West Vancouver, will join the Vees full-time in the 2018-19 season, but will be available to the BCHL champions as an affiliated player for the remainder of 2017-18.
Ben Allen, a 1997-born forward from Allen, Texas, has committed to the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers for next season.
Shepard plays for Delta Academy Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. In 2016-17 with the Delta Bantam team, Shepard recorded 19 goals and 47 points in 30 games. So far this season, Shepard has three goals and 10 points in seven games.
“Cole is an outstanding young talent who will fit very well into the way we play in Penticton,” said Vees president, GM and head coach Fred Harbinson.
For Shepard, the success and pedigree of the Vees’ franchise was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
“This is an organization that’s known throughout junior hockey as one of the best places to play,” Shepard said. “Fred, the rest of the coaching staff and the facilities are top notch. I’m a fast, creative guy who likes putting up points, but I know I have to crack down on defence too.”
Earlier this week, Shepard was named to Team BC for the newly-branded WHL Cup, formerly known as the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup. The event features the highest-rated players in the under-16 age category from the provinces of Alberta, B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The tournament goes Oct. 18-22 in Calgary.
Shepard will be available as an affiliate player for up to five games during the regular season. Once his season with Delta comes to an end, he can suit up with the Vees regularly.
Allen, meanwhile, is in his final year of junior and first with the Vees. In five games this season, Allen has recorded two goals and an assist.
Last season, Allen spent time with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta league and the Battlefords North Stars of the Saskatchewan league. Allen helped Battleford win the SJHL’s Canalta Cup, scoring 13 points in 12 playoff games.
He appeared in all five games for the North Stars at the Western Canada Cup in Penticton, scoring once. For his efforts, Allen was named to the SJHL’s All-Rookie Team.
“Ben is off to a great start and has earned an opportunity to further his career at Alabama-Huntsville,” Harbinson said. “Ben is one of the smartest players we’ve had play here in Penticton and he will be a great addition to the Chargers program.”
Allen becomes the 17th player on the Vees’ roster to receive an NCAA Division I scholarship.
VERNON-VEES: Allen will be in the lineup but Shepard won’t be as the Vees face the Vernon Vipers in a home-and-home marquee weekend matchup.
The arch-rivals tangle tonight at 7 p.m. at the South Okanagan Events Centre and Saturday at 6 p.m. at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.
The Vipers (7-1-1) lead the league and the Interior Division with 15 points, but the Vees (5-0-0) are the league’s only unbeaten team.
The teams are meeting for the first time since Game 7 of last year’s Interior Division final, which the Vees won en route to capturing the BCHL title.
Penticton comes in having played the fewest games in the league and holding four games in hand on Vernon, who swept a three-game road trip to Victoria, Nanaimo and Surrey last weekend.
“I told the guys I’ve never had an easier month of coaching,” quipped Harbinson. “But everyone knows the schedule starts to heat up now. We’ve got 10 games (in October) and all two- and three-game weeks for the next few months. Everyone has to play 58 (games).”
ICE CHIPS: Vees F Taylor Ward (upper-body) and D Greg Brydon (lower-body) are ruled out tonight.