Vees get a little good news on the injury front
Forward expected to return for series opener against Trail on Friday
The Penticton Vees got some good news on the injury front on Wednesday.
Forward Ryan Sandelin, who missed the last seven games due to an upper-body injury, was cleared for contact in the morning and practised in full with the team in the afternoon at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
“He’ll be available on Friday,” said Vees GM/head coach Fred Harbinson, alluding to Game 1 of the best-of-seven Interior Division semifinal series against the Trail Smoke Eaters at 7 p.m. at the SOEC.
As anticipated, the news wasn’t so good on forward Cassidy Bowes, who left practice on Tuesday in considerable discomfort after a spill near centre ice.
“It’s long-term, an upperbody issue, maybe for the rest of the year, but at least this round and the next, if we’re fortunate enough to get that far,” said Harbinson.
There was no change in the status of defenceman Nicky Leivermann, stretchered off after crashing head-first into the boards in Game 3 of the first round in Coquitlam.
“We won’t have him for a while, at least,” said Harbinson.
The return of Sandelin gives the Vees one extra forward (13), plus highly-touted 2002born forward Cole Shepard will be staying with Penticton after his Delta Academy Prep team’s season ends this weekend. Shepard is committed to the Vees for 2018-19.
Harbinson said the Vees are going to need four effective and productive lines against an explosive team like Trail.
“We need to have four good lines and we think we have that,” said Harbinson. “We go into Game 1 with a plan, and if we need to adjust and tweak things, we will.”
Harbinson said the players are upbeat, excited and tired of practising after a full eight-day break following Round 1.
“The injuries and guys missing for other reasons are nothing new to us . . . we’ve had it all season long,” said Harbinson.
Game 2 of the series goes Saturday at 6 p.m. at the SOEC.
ALL-STARS: Vees defenceman Jonny Tychonick was named to the BCHL First All-Star Team, goalie Adam Scheel to the Second All-Star Team and Leivermann to the All-Rookie Team after voting by the league’s play-by-play broadcasters.
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM: Forwards, Jasper Weatherby (Wenatchee), Alex Newhook (Victoria), Kale Howarth (Trail); defencemen, Tychonick, Cooper Zech (Wenatchee); goalie, Ty Taylor (Vernon).
SECOND TEAM: Forwards, John Wesley and Ty Westgard (Surrey), AJ Vanderbeck (Wenatchee); defencemen, Michael Ufberg (Vernon) and Slava Demin (Wenatchee); goalie, Scheel.
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM: Forwards, Newhook, Levi Glasman (Trail), Keaton Mastrodonato (Alberni Valley); defencemen, Leivermann, Layton Ahac (Prince George); goalie Seth Eisele (Wenatchee).