Vees hope to make history by averaging 3,000 fans

With five home games left, the Penticton Vees have a chance to do something no other Canadian Junior Hockey League team has done before.

After coming so close last season, the high-flying Vees are on the cusp of averaging 3,000-plus fans in 2017-18.

The Vees are finally playing at home tonight and Saturday after six straight road games. They are clinging to first place in the Interior Division and play all their top rivals at home in the last few weeks of the regular season.

“Hopefully we’ll get some huge crowds,” said Vees president, GM and head coach Fred Harbinson. “Trail and Vernon on the weekend and then we’re giving away a trip to Mexico on the last ‘Wicked Wednesday’ game (Feb. 14 against Coquitlam). Then we have key games against Wenatchee and Salmon Arm to finish.”

The Vees averaged 2,990 fans in 28 home dates last season and are ahead of that pace this season, sitting at 3,036.

Harbinson said if the Vees average 2,824 over the last five games, it will be good enough to get to 3,000 for the season.

A big key has been assistant coach Matt Fraser adding Director of Community Events to his duties for the 2017-18 season, helping the Vees expand their presence within not only Penticton but surrounding communities as well.

“Taking on a new role this year, I had an idea of some things I wanted to try out,” said Fraser. “To me, the biggest one is the school visits because the kids at the elementary schools love seeing the players up close and in person.”

Other events the Vees have participated in include Skate with the Vees at McLaren Arena, Soupateria at the soup kitchen, Cover With Kindness blanket drive, Nightmare on Front Street, United Way Drivethru, Share the Spirit for Women’s Shelters and the Penticton Cares Food Drive for the Salvation Army.

Another big event is Family Day at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Sponsored by the City of Penticton and Spectra, the event will run this Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features a wide variety of family-oriented activities.

Vees players and staff will be on hand for a free skate with the Vees at the SOEC from noon to 2 p.m. Skate rentals will be available for just $2 and all proceeds will go to Penticton Minor Hockey.

PETER’S BROTHERS PROGRAM CHANGES: The Vees announced some changes to the Peter’s Brothers Program, which sees free admission to fans under the age of 18 years old, starting with tonight’s game against Trail.

Before the program was initiated, the Vees were averaging under 200 children per game at the SOEC. In the first year it was implemented in 2014-15, that number skyrocketed to 484 per game. The number increased to 544 and to 577 last season.

Through 23 home games in 2017-18, the Vees are averaging 590 children per game.

As such, the Vees have announced for remaining home games this season, fans under the age of 18, who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian, must enter through Gate 1 and must present photo identification when entering. Even if tickets have been purchased ahead of time, these changes will still be in effect.

“These changes will continue for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs,” Harbinson said.