Vees pumped to play at home this weekend
Penticton set to host Prince George tonight, followed by Wenatchee
Fred Harbinson may not be guaranteeing wins this weekend, but the Penticton Vees president, GM and head coach stressed there is one assurance fans can take to the bank.
“We’re going to play our asses off, we’re going to play with passion,” said Harbinson, as his Vees take on the Prince George Spruce Kings tonight at 7 p.m. and the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Missing five top players to injury or suspension, the Vees will be looking to halt a five-game winless streak (0-4-1) against two of the stronger teams in the B.C. Hockey League.
“We just need to string some solid hockey together,” said Harbinson. “We’ve got guys missing, but we’ve got a real good group here that can win games.
“Some guys have to step up into bigger roles and we have to execute.”
The Vees (22-9-2-2) are in the middle of a dogfight at the top of the powerful Interior Division. Resurgent Trail beat visiting Wenatchee 2-1 on Wednesday and are now tied with the Vees for third place. The Vees are five points behind Wenatchee with three games in hand and nine behind first-place Vernon with four in hand.
“It’s tight in our division and the league in general,” said Harbinson. “There are no ‘easy outs’ and that’s great for the league, the fans, and the players and coaches. We still feel this division is totally up for grabs as we go into these last (22) games.”
The Vees are without forward Grant Cruikshank and defenceman Ryan O’Connell with season-ending injuries.
Forwards Chris Klack and Cassidy Bowes are also out with upper-body injuries, while captain Owen Sillinger will miss both games with a two-game suspension for a checking-from-behind infraction in Wenatchee last Saturday.
Cole Shepard, a highly-regarded 15-year-old forward out of the Delta Academy, will join the Vees for the weekend.
Shepard, who will play for the Vees fulltime next season, is already being pursued by several top NCAA Division 1 schools.
Defenceman Michael Campoli, who de-committed from Boston College to join the Vees, will make his BCHL debut tonight.
Adam Scheel will get the start in goal against Prince George.
With co-captains Cruikshank and Sillinger unavailable, Harbinson said defenceman Jonny Tychonick will wear the “C” this weekend. With Klack also out, forward Taylor Ward is the only remaining assistant captain.
Harbinson said the Vees won’t be putting a letter on any other player in the interim.
“They all end up getting injured or suspended,” quipped Harbinson. “Guys are trying to give the letters back.”
On a positive note, Klack has looked good in his return to non-contact practice drills.
“There is a good chance if he progresses to contact drills after the weekend that he could get into the lineup on Wednesday (versus Merritt at the SOEC),” said Harbinson.
Bowes is returning to Penticton on Sunday and starts participating in non-contract drills next week, with an eye towards returning to the lineup before the end of the month.
Harbinson said regardless of where the six-time defending Interior pennant winning Vees finish in the division standings, they will be a “very tough” team to beat once the playoffs start on March 2.
“We fight through adversity and we find ways to win,” said Harbinson. “We did it last year after we ran into a tough stretch and people counted us out. We’re defending BCHL champions and we’re going to act like it and play like it until a time comes where someone finds a way to knock us out. We’re a resilient bunch here.”
ICE CHIPS: Harbinson isn’t anticipating a lot of movement around the league before the roster deadline Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Vees have two cards available due to losing Cruikshank and O’Connell for the season. “We’re not prepared to leverage the future to make a big splash (at the deadline),” said Harbinson. “There really isn’t a lot out there. We’ve certainly got some irons in the fire, but it’s not always that easy. In many cases, one domino has to fall to create the next one.”