Young stars strut stuff at Vees bantam exposure camp
General manager and head coach Fred Harbinson was left practically in disbelief at the skill level at the Penticton Vees Bantam Exposure Showcase.
Some 75 players – mainly born in 2003, but with a handful of 2004s and even one 2005 – were divided into four teams for the seventh annual camp Saturday and Sunday at the OHS Training Centre rink at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
“It’s just amazing how these young kids are more and more skilled every year,” said Harbinson. “Just the amount of hockey they’re exposed to that helps them learn different ways to handle the puck and things. They’ve got the visual tools available to learn different skills and they just go and do it. Everyone here this weekend was extremely impressed – there wasn’t just a few great players, there were a lot of great players.”
The one 2005-born player – 12year-old forward Connor Bedard from North Vancouver – was among those to wow the Vees brass and scouts in attendance.
The four teams were named in honour of former Vees Tyson Jost, Dante Fabbro, Troy Stecher and Mike Reilly. Each team played each other once in two 30-minute, running-time games.
There was some local talent on display, including several Okanagan Hockey Academy players and Penticton minor hockey player Finn Halladay.
Harbinson said the seminar on Saturday afternoon went “really well”, with the young players getting an education on what the the Vees program, playing in the B.C. Hockey League and earning college education/scholarships is all about.
“A lot of these kids are going to be drafted by Western Hockey League teams in May,” said Harbinson.
“It’s an exciting time in their young careers. It’s still a long way to get to playing junior hockey but it’s a great step in their development.”
Harbinson said each player got an exit interview on Sunday and several were invited to the Vees Spring Camp May 24-27 at the SOEC.
While none of the players are eligible to suit up full-time for the Vees in 2018-19, they could be signed on as affiliated players and be called up for games in the event of injury or other absences.
Harbinson said he wants to have the 2018-19 roster for main training camp finalized by the end of the Spring Camp. Off the ice, things are also progressing nicely.
“We’re way ahead of where we normally are on our season’s ticket renewals and our corporate sales start kicking off now,” said Harbinson.