New-look Vees reloaded with talented forwards
Trio of 18-year-olds, Elser, Steele and Loheit, shining in camp thus far
The Penticton Vees will have lots of new faces up front, but the potential of skill, speed and size is there to produce plenty of offence this season.
Due to injuries, Penticton will be without a key returning forward in Cassidy Bowes for the first month, and captain Massimo Rizzo won’t be ready to go until the regular season opener Sept. 7 at Langley, or possibly a bit longer.
Still, the Vees have 12 healthy forwards and just about every one of them has made strong impressions through the first week of camp.
Fans will get a preview of what to expect on Wednesday as the Vees welcome the West Kelowna Warriors to the South Okanagan Events Centre in a preseason tilt.
Among the intriguing newcomers to watch include 18-year-olds Drew Elser, Sammy Steele and Luke Loheit.
Vees general manager/head coach Fred Harbinson anticipates Elser and Steele to be the left- and rightwingers, respectively, to start the season on the top line with the gifted Rizzo.
Elser reminds the Vees’ coaching staff of a left-handed Brad McClure, which is high praise indeed.
“That snap shot reminds me a lot of McClure,” said Harbinson. “He’s an aggressive kid and has great speed.”
Steele, a 6-foot-4, 193-pounder who won a USHL championship last season with the Fargo Force, can score and provide a net-front presence.
Loheit, a seventh-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, has had a strong camp and his well-rounded game should bring plenty of versatility to Penticton’s forward ranks.
“He’s gritty, physical, he’s got great hands and he protects the puck so well,” said Harbinson. “You can see he’s got pro potential.”
David Silye, acquired in an offseason trade with Nanaimo, is a slick playmaker who figures to centre the second line and also contribute on the power play.
Possible linemates are secondyear forwards Ryan Sandelin and Lukas Sillinger, both who looked to have gained a step since their rookie campaigns. Sandelin was playing injured in the playoffs and looks healthy and ready to be a key contributor now.
“They’ve had real good camps and so has Jack Barnes (another second-year forward),” said Harbinson.
Another fascinating newcomer to keep tabs on will be highly touted Cole Shepard, a 16-year-old who impressed when called up to the Vees in the playoffs.
Shepard, who starred with the Delta Academy Prep team, may not get the kind of minutes out of the gate that he’s been used to in recent seasons, but his path to the Vees and the elite talent level in not unlike Rizzo. Shepard is bound for Harvard University in a few years’ time, so it’s safe to say he has the smarts to figure it out. He’s going to be a good one.
“He just brings a lot of energy every day,” Harbinson said recently, of Shepard. “He’s oozing talent and definitely has the ability to produce at a young age.”
A couple other first-year players who should develop nicely as the season goes on are Jackson Niedermayer and Henri Schreifels.
And don’t forget Ryan Miotto, an experienced 19-year-old who was acquired in the summer after winning an RBC Cup with Chilliwack.
Harbinson and the staff certainly have some great pieces up front to work with. Putting the puzzle together always requires some trial and error, but the Vees have a group with a ton of upside that you figure will be good in September, very good by Christmas, and quite possibly excellent by the time the regular season ends.
Peaking at the right time would certainly be a good thing. For now, we can just sit back and enjoy the ride.