Vees visiting Merritt tonight as forward reinforcements debut
Ghantous, Harrogate hoping to contribute experience, offence
After finding out they were coming to Penticton to play for the Vees, Andre Ghantous and Brendan Harrogate couldn’t get here fast enough.
Looking to add more veteran presence to a young lineup that is also missing some key players, the Vees welcome the sense of urgency of the two 20-year-old forwards with two big games on tap this weekend.
The Vees (2-3-0) play their first divisional game of the season tonight at 7 p.m. in Merritt followed by their home opener against Alberni Valley on Saturday, 6 p.m. at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Ghantous and Harrogate took significantly different routes to get to Penticton. That is true both literally and figuratively as Ghantous drove to Penticton while Harrogate flew.
Ghantous was for two years an Interior Division rival who played a huge role in the Trail Smoke Eaters eliminating the Vees in seven games in the second round of last year’s playoffs.
Harrogate, on the other hand, spent the last three seasons with Mississauga and Oshawa of the Ontario Hockey League.
“I’m really excited to be here,” said Ghantous, who tallied eight points in the seven playoff games against the Vees. “Once I heard we hadn’t played a home game yet, I rushed even faster to get here. It’s a great building and always a huge and loud crowd. It was amazing playing here in last year’s playoffs.”
Ghantous admitted it was “a bit strange” to walk into the dressing room of a team he’d played against for so long.
“The guys have been awesome,” he said. “It’s a real talented young group with some older guys, too. I just want to be a good veteran presence, impart some knowledge to the younger guys and be productive at both ends of the ice.”
Ghantous is happy to have found a home after being sent to Alberni Valley after the season ended as the future considerations in a deal that saw Trail acquire defenceman Connor Welsh at the Jan. 10 trade deadline.
Ghantous instead went to the U.S. Vees GM and head coach Fred Harbinson chats with newcomer Brendan Harrogate during Thursday’s practice. Hockey League and attended the Omaha Lancers training camp and played three pre-season games. He moved on to the Dubuque Fighting Saints, but requested a trade when Penticton showed interest.
The Vees dealt forwards Ryan Miotto and Henri Schreifels to Alberni for the rights to Ghantous.
“I got my release on Monday, packed and drove straight here, got here Wednesday, and practised (Thursday),” said Ghantous, a native of California. “It’s great . . . I’ve been waiting all summer for this.”
Ghantous said he got a couple of goodnatured barbs from the players about his work against the Vees with the Smokies.
“Guys like Kenny (Johnson) and James (Miller), they’ve always had a big defence that can skate,” said Ghantous. “They’re always tough to play against. I’m glad they’re on my side now.”
Harrogate flew in on Wednesday night and also got to practice with his new team for the first time Thursday.
“I did my research on the Vees, the league, and I couldn’t be happier to be here,” said Harrogate. “It’s a storied organization with a great coach in Fred. I’ve always wanted to play out here, see what B.C. is like. It’s my first time here and it’s exciting. The guys have been really welcoming, making me feel right at home.”
Harrogate, from Chatham, Ont., hasn’t played much this season. He was waiting to clear waivers in the OHL and hoping to get the green light to come to Penticton after conferring with Harbinson on a regular basis.
“I was just hanging around at home, doing some power skating and trying to stay fit and ready to go,” said Harrogate.
Harrogate also won a Sutherland Cup Junior-B title before going on to Mississauga, where he helped the Ice Dogs win an OHL Eastern Conference playoff title.
“I can produce offence . . . score some goals, make some plays and bring a lot of leadership,” said the 6-foot-1, 188-pound Harrogate. “I look around at this group and picked up right away that they have a lot of talent. We get a couple of injured guys back and it’s a team that can go a long way. It’s a team that expects to do that every year.”
Harrogate has been playing primarily at right wing the last two seasons but is also capable of playing centre. Good thing, because that’s where the Vees need him most with top pivots Massimo Rizzo and Cassidy Bowes sidelined.
“It can be a bit of an adjustment, but I’m sure it will be fine,” said Harrogate. “I’ve always been strong on faceoffs and have been the guy to step in when a centre gets kicked out of the circle. I’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win.”
Interestingly, the Vees were practising Thursday at Memorial Arena to help the transition of playing at the cozy confines of Merritt’s Nicola Valley Arena tonight.
It’s all new to Harrogate, but Ghantous said it was a shrewd move by Harbinson and the coaching staff in preparing for Merritt.
Only a handful of Vees — including Ghantous — have played in Merritt.
“Everything happens so quick and you’ve got a chance to score from just about anywhere,” said Ghantous. “I was trying to explain that a bit to the younger guys today. They’re going to be in for a bit of a shock the first time. It’s a different kind of game in there.”
Both newcomers practised with some different linemates and agreed that it will help to practice together for a few days in a row next week.
“I’m sure there will be some mixing and matching this weekend,” said Ghantous. “It’ll be a little hectic, but we’ll get through it. We go out and get a few wins and get things sorted out in practice.”