Newcomers shining for Vees
Incoming forward Hiroki Gojsic wasted no time making an impact in a Penticton Vees uniform.
The hulking 16-year-old, who stands sixfoot-four and weighs 183 pounds, scored once and added an assist as Team Blue defeated Team White by a 4-1 mark during the Peaches Cup intrasquad game this past Saturday.
Gojsic, a native of Langley, spent the past two seasons with St. Georges School in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, where he put up 51 points in 32 games last season.
Returning player Beanie Richter also scored for Team Blue, as did newcomers Tim Shutz and Gabriel Guilbault.
Jan Seidl, another fresh face, scored the lone goal for Team White.
Three new goalies — Luca Di Pasquo, Hank Levy and Derek Sparks — shared netminding duties.
Next up for the Vees is a three-game exhibition slate with home games Sept. 9 versus the Vernon Vipers and Sept. 17 against the Chilliwack Chiefs during the Vancouver Canucks Young Stars tournament. The Vees also visit Vernon on Sept. 16.
Tickets for the Vees’ home exhibition games cost $10 and are available now. Local youth under the age of 18 get in free, courtesy of Peter Bros Paving.
Meanwhile, the Vees announced the four veterans who will form the team’s leadership group this season.
Frank Djurasevic, a defenceman, will keep the C that was applied to his sweater midway through the 2021-22 campaign. His assistants will be Josh Nadeau, Josh Niedermayer and Spencer Smith
“With 14 returning players, we had a plethora of options for alternate captains,” said coach Fred Harbinson in a press release.
“Josh Nadeau, Spencer Smith and Josh Niedermayer will do an outstanding job in helping Frank lead our team.”