PENTICTON – The Penticton Vees have landed former Vernon Viper forward Demico Hannoun.
The North Delta product was picked up in a deal from the Surrey Eagles in exchange for the Canadian Junior Hockey League playing rights of defenceman Alex Coulombe and future considerations, the Vees announced Wednesday.
Vernon earlier sent Hannoun to the Eagles to close a January deal for Surrey captain Brett Mulcahy.
“Demico is a player who we are very familiar with, and I look forward to working with him so can he achieve his maximum potential,” said Vees’ head coach/GM Fred Harbinson.
Hannoun is excited to join the Vees after asking for a trade two weeks ago when he learned that former Vancouver Canuck Peter Schaefer wouldn’t be coaching Surrey. Hannoun is now looking forward to learning under Harbinson.
“Fred is probably one of the best coaches in our league,” said Hannoun. “I’m excited for him to help me develop, become a better player.”
Hannoun, committed to Michigan Tech for the 2015-16 season, can help the Vees in the offensive department.
In 138 BCHL regular-season games, he has 41 goals and 103 points. He has also produced at a near point-per-game clip in the last two playoff seasons, amassing eight goals and 26 points in 44 games.
Hannoun has played in two RBC Cups: with the Eagles two years ago and last season with the host Vipers. Hannoun also represented Canada as a member of Team Canada West at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge in Nova Scotia.
A cousin of Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Nic Petan, Hannoun should feel comfortable in the Vees’ dressing room early as he knows Steen Cooper, Dante Fabbro and co-captain Cody DePourcq.
After dealing with back problems that kept him out of some playoffs games with the Vipers, Hannoun said he is healthy and excited to get back on the ice with his new team. He is also excited about playing in the South Okanagan Events Centre.
“It’s just an unreal atmosphere to play in that rink,” he said. “I always looked forward to playing against the Vees.”
Coulombe, from Granby, Que., played in 54 regular season games with the Vees last season while adding three goals and 19 points to go with 50 penalty minutes. Coulombe played in all 11 playoffs games, registering one assist.
The Vees open their exhibition schedule Saturday, Aug. 30 in Vernon.
