The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the hockey world upside down.
The National Hockey League is beginning its Stanley Cup playoffs — in August.
The British Columbia Hockey League will begin its season — in December!
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League - is still pondering a start date.
As far at the BCHL goes, teams will have players in their respective cities to begin training camp in August.
When it comes to recruiting players, general managers have had to get creative, considering they can’t just fly a player in from New York to meet personally and discuss the future.
“You just try to be honest with people. In our world everybody wants guarantees - and yesterday. But that’s not the world we’re living in right now,” said longtime Penticton Vees president, general manager and head coach Fred Harbinson. ”We’ve been very up front and tried to educate the families and the players of what we have going on, and we think here in Penticton we can really execute the plan.
“I think the players are excited about the opportunity that lies ahead for them.”
What lies ahead is the opportunity to win a championship — something Vees fans have become accustomed to seeing year-after-year.
The Vees had a powerhouse team in 2019-20, and were ready to begin a second-round playoff series with arch-rival Vernon when the season was ended March 13th due to the coronavirus.
The veteran squad had five players who had fathers enjoy successful NHL careers, along with an NHL first round draft pick in Jay O’Brien.
When the season was stopped prematurely because of COVID-19, Harbinson went back to the drawing board, frustrated at what could have been, but, as always, excited to bring in a new crop of Vees ready to challenge for the BCHL championship.
“You start in goal, and you get Yaniv Perets back, who was outstanding in goal last year,” said Harbinson. “We've brought in a veteran to work with him in Kaeden Lane. He played two years in Grande Prairie. So, our goaltending should be real solid.”
Perets finished third in the league in 2019-20 with a 2.19 goals against average. He had a 25-8-1 record, a .918 save percentage, and recorded five shutouts.
Lane, 18, played the last two seasons with the Storm after two seasons with the Burnaby Winter Club. The 5-11, 170-pound netminder posted a 3.22 goals against average in 74 games with the Grande Prairie while registering 31 victories and four shutouts.
The defense will be anchored by 6-7,195-pound Trail native Ethan Martini.
“He’s a big body with a lot of experience. And we picked up Ben Wozney from Power River, who has experience in the league,” said Harbinson. “I think one of the underrated players is Josh Niedermayer. I think he’s going to be a force, even as a 16 year old. He’s a big, strong, young defensemen who has a lot of promise.”
The Vees have also received a commitment from Frank Djurasevic. The 18-year-old helped his North Avalanche team to an American Youth Hockey League U-18 Premier championship last season. The 6-2, 190 pounder had six goals and 19 points in 28 games.
Up front, the offence will be led by returnees Liam Malquist (16 goals, 39 points, four game winners and Jackson Niedermayer (23 goals, 45 points, 10 power play points).
Harbinson, never one to sit back, has been busy on the trade market throughout the lengthy off-season.
"I think we’ll have four solid lines again. We picked up Luc Wilson, and Fin Williams, who will be a draft pick this year,” said Harbinson. “Tyler Ho (three game winners) and Tristan Amonte (six game winners) were solid in the playoffs last year and they’ll be back.”
Other recruits include Ryan McGuire, 17, who spent three seasons with Belmont Hill High School in the United States High School Hockey League. The 6-1, 185-pound forward had 36 goals and 77 points in 90 games. Ryan is the son of reformer NHL’er and current broadcaster Pierre McGuire.
Luc Wilson, who had 53 points in 55 games for Cowichan Valley last season, Steffano Bottini, who has been selected for Switzerland’s National Under-20 camp, Ryan Upson, a 19-year -old who spent last year with the West Kelowna Warriors, Jacob Quillan and Devlin O’Brien are some of the other top recruits joining the Vees.
“The thing that sticks out again is that the players have good character - guys that are committed to the team,” said Harbinson. “September will be here quickly, and we’re looking forward to it.”
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