Key part of season lays ahead
Vees in good position heading to second half, face high expectations as Western Canada Cup hosts
While justifiably pleased with the first half of the season, the Penticton Vees know 2016-17 will be defined by what they do between now and May.
The Vees (28-6-1) returned to practice Tuesday after a 10-day Christmas break and take on the Merritt Centennials in the first of four straight home games Friday at 7 p.m. at the SOEC.
“We set ourselves up well these first (35 games), but we know the key part of the season starts in January,” said captain Nicholas Jones, who leads a balanced Vees attack with 38 points. “It was nice to get a bit of a break and recharge. It’s a long season and we’re looking forward to playing into May.”
Jones is embracing his role as captain of one of the premier junior-A teams in Canada — one that will host the Western Canada Cup April 29 to May 7 and will be expected to take a serious run at a national championship.
“There are always high expectations with this program,” said Jones. “Especially so in a year we’re hosting the WCC. There is pressure, and we’re excited for the pressure and the challenge.”
Another vital cog for the Vees has been veteran goalie Mat Robson, who leads the league with 23 wins to go along with a 1.91 goalsagainst average and .926 save percentage.
Robson believes he has another level to get to and stressed he will need to get there with the critical part of the season still to come.
“I need to be better,” said Robson. “I’ve had some good games, but there have been some weak ones as well. I need to be more consistent. I’d like to get a shutout every game . . . it’s not realistic, but you want to set the standards high. You want to do what you can for us to get the top seed and going into the playoffs with confidence as high as possible.”
The Vees were stunned in the second round of last year’s playoffs in large part due to losing veteran goaltender Anthony Brodeur to a knee injury late in the regular season.
Robson said he knows the importance of staying healthy.
“You’ve got to be diligent with stretching and preparation,” said Robson. “If you pick up a minor injury, get it looked at right away. (But) if something was to happen, I’ve got all the confidence Nolan (Hildebrand) can come in and carry the load.”
The Vees have managed to not only survive, but flourish, despite injuries and losing players to the World Junior A Challenge — which decimated the defence in December.
“I thought the guys who came in did a great job,” said Robson. “It’s good to be getting a lot of our regular guys back. We want to go on a long run and it’s important to be healthy.”
Jones said it was good for the Vees to face adversity and have to win games in a different manner than they had become accustomed to.
“It was a good learning experience that should help us going into the playoffs,” said Jones.
Griffin Mendel and Jonny Tychonick are back from the WJAC while fellow blue-liner James Miller (upper-body) is practising and is only about a week away from returning to the lineup. Veteran defenceman Gabe Bast (lower-body) remains out indefinitely.
Forward Jamie Armstrong may also play as early as Friday after being sidelined with mononucleosis, though he was among several Vees players whose return to Penticton this week was delayed by weather-related travel complications.
The Vees are also home to face Trail on Jan. 4, Vernon on Jan. 7 and West Kelowna on Jan. 11 before taking on Merritt in their first road game of 2017 on Jan. 13.
Penticton has a 16-point lead over secondplace Vernon as they look to secure their sixth straight Interior Division pennant.
“We’ve come back well rested and ready to go,” said Robson. “The guys are really excited to be back. Everyone around here has been champing at the bit the last few days to get at it again.”
Merritt (12-14-7-2) is tied for last place with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, though they are only two points behind West Kelowna and Trail, who are tied for third.
Meanwhile, Mendel was named to Team West for the 12th annual Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects Game. Team West plays Team East in the game on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 4:30 p.m. in Cornwall, Ont.
Defenceman Cory Babichuk and forward Desi Burgart — traded by the Vees to the Surrey Eagles in September — were among nine BCHL players named to Team West.
Mendel, a 17-year-old from Kelowna in his second season with the Vees, played for the Canada White team at last year’s World Under-17 Hockey Championship.
Bound for the University of Denver for 2017-18, the premier shut-down blue-liner has four assists in 31 games for the Vees. The Okanagan Hockey Academy graduate had two goals and 14 points in 52 games last season.