Vees targeting a championship repeat
After a terrific 2021-22 year, which saw the Penticton Vees end the season in record breaking style with 16 straight playoff wins and a BCHL Fred Page Cup championship, it didn’t take very long for the team to recalibrate and look to the future.
“We were sitting at our post-game celebration dinner, and the coaches were looking around the room at all our returning players...we said it right then,we potentially have all the pieces to make another BCHL championship push, and repeat”, said Vees’ president, general manager and head coach Fred Harbinson.
The goal of repeating was publicly highlighted just a few days later, during the Vees’ championship parade and celebration down at Rotary Park.
Harbinson teased the crowd of about 2,000 fans with the target of winning back-to-back championships; something he’s never done before
(the Vees have won three of the last six BCHL championships and Harbinson has won five during his 15-year tenure with the Vees).
With 14 returning players, Harbinson feels that the Vees’ have a very strong foundation to build from, “Never in my time here have we had so many return- ers. Typically, we have about a half dozen guys come back. To have so many players return after winning a championship, and with so many of them having leadership and game breaking potential, I believe Penticton is going to be treated to a great season of hockey,” said Harbinson.
Below, is a brief summation of the Vees coming back to Penticton for the 2022-23 season:
RETURNING FORWARDS
Penticton Vees supporters must be excited to see the dynamic Nadeau brothers play on the same line again this season.
Older brother Josh, with his slippery edges and next-level hockey sense, will lead the Vees offense, as he returns to Penticton following his team-leading 40-goal and 72 points in the regular season. He also led the BCHL playoffs with 12 goals.
The younger brother, NHL draft-eligible Bradly, finished the playoffs on a high, with a hat-trick in Game 4 versus Nanaimo. His hard, accurate shot and elite skills will help make the Nadeau line the most dangerous in the BCHL.
“Everyone wants to talk about their offence, but to me it’s their defence and competitiveness that places them at such an elite level. In the playoffs, I would match them against the opposition’s top lines. They are responsible and hardworking; they’ll be a force this season and worth the price of admission” Harbinson said.
The Vees’ two future University of Wisconsin Badgers, Brett Moravec and Ethan Mann, are ready to take next steps with Penticton after both made solid contributions at both ends of the ice.
“They are both very high-end skaters, noted Harbinson. I can put them on the ice in any situation and they can be successful. They’re like Swiss Army knives that I feel I can really trust, as they’ve learned to be ready to compete at all times.”
Centremen Spencer Smith and Jackson Nieuwendyk will once again fill their critical roles down the middle. Both are very popular players, their face-off winning percentages in the playoffs approached 60 percent,” said Harbinson. “I know what I’m going to get every shift from these two, they are a coach’s dream. They’re very responsible and such good skaters and very hard players to play against because they seem to always be in the right position. I think each can add a little more offense to their games this season as well.”
Gritty wingers Beanie Richter and Thomas Pichette will also be returning to the Peach City. Primarily relied upon in defensive situations during the regular season, each made timely offensive contributions during the playoffs,” Harbinson said. “Thomas came up big for us in Prince George in those tough playoff games, scoring a goal in each game in that building and then following that up with two goals to launch us in Game 1 of the West Kelowna series. Beanie was a forechecking demon all playoffs, and also chipped in offensively. His game has grown on all fronts since he came to us as a practice player in 2020. I expect him to give opposition defence fits this year.”
Aydar Suniev was a late-season addition for the Vees, arriving right at the deadline from St. Andrew’s College prep team. Suniev made an immediate impression with his strong physique, undeniable skill, and booming one-time slap shot.
Unfortunately, Suniev broke his finger during the playoffs, and couldn’t finish the year. NHL scouts will be flocking to the South Okanagan Events Centre to watch the draft-eligible winger.
“Aydar has very high-end talent, being here for a full season will really maximize his development potential. We expect big things from him this year,” said Harbinson.