Vees lock up Rizzo and Harbinson
Young forward named Penticton’s captain for NHL draft year; coach-GM extended
Fred Harbinson has signed an extension through the 2023-24 B.C. Hockey League season while forward Massimo Rizzo has been named the new captain of the Penticton Vees.
The announcements were made at a conference open to the public Tuesday afternoon at the Valley First Vault restaurant at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Harbinson, 46, has enjoyed a wildly successful 11-year tenure as general manager and head coach of the Vees. He added the title of president to his portfolio four seasons ago.
“My family and I feel very fortunate to be here,” said Harbinson, who has amassed four BCHL championships, a national championship and last season guided the Vees to an unprecedented seventh straight Interior Division pennant. “I work for the best owners in junior hockey in (Graham and Sue Fraser), it’s a great lifestyle here, a beautiful environment, and we have a first-class staff and amazing hockey players.”
Harbinson has led the Vees to 24 banners in 11 seasons at the helm — eight more than their nearest BCHL rival, the Vernon Vipers.
Rizzo doesn’t turn 17 until June, but starred in a full season with the Vees in 2017-18 after joining Penticton for their run to a BCHL title and a berth in the RBC Cup national championship in 2016-17.
“I’m honoured and humbled to be named captain of such a great team, for a great organization,” said Rizzo. “I’ve learned a lot from the past leadership groups. We’ve got a great group of players coming in this season and I look forward to helping lead us to a championship.”
Forwards Cassidy Bowes and Ryan Sandelin were named assistant captains, while the Vees plan to name two more assistant captains before the start of the season.
Rizzo said he’s excited about being named captain and doesn’t believe his age will be an issue.
“I’ve been a captain before (in minor hockey) and I know what it takes to be a leader,” said the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Burnaby native. “We’ve got a lot of great leaders among our group.” Rizzo had 13 goals and 39 points in 50 regular-season games and logged four goals and 10 points in 11 playoff games.
The Vees also made several other announcements, including the indefinite continuation of the program sponsored by Peter’s Bros. Construction that sees kids under the age of 18 admitted to Vees games free of charge.
There will be no change to the season’s ticket price structure or the Membership Program that was introduced last year, while a new “Community Heroes Program” will see the Vees donate $1,000 from each home game to a local charitable group.
More details from the conference will be provided in Thursday’s edition of the Penticton Herald.