Cody DePourcq always wanted to join the strong tradition of Penticton junior A captains and last week that dream came true.
DePourcq, entering his fourth season with the Vees, will succeed Brad McClure with help from Patrick Sexton, as they were named co-captains.
Vees general manager Fred Harbinson said making this decision was an obvious choice.
“Both Cody and Paddy have all the leadership qualities you want in a captain and both have earned the privilege of wearing the C,” said Harbinson.
DePourcq said he was surprised, but is very excited. The idea of DePourcq wearing a letter next season came up during his exit interview with Harbinson. The Vees coach said it was a good possibility DePourcq would wear one, but asked the Penticton minor hockey product if he was ready for the responsibility.
“It’s special just being on the team and being from Penticton and now wearing the C as well. It’s something I’m going cherish and I look forward to,” said DePourcq, adding he’s sure it’s special for Sexton also.
DePourcq and Sexton bring plenty of experience with a combined eight seasons of junior hockey.
Along with McClure, the recent line of captains DePourcq follows are former teammates Logan Johnston and Troy Stecher, with whom he won the 2012 RBC Cup. DePourcq said he’s learned a lot from the trio.
“Logan, obviously, he led by example,” said DePourcq. “All three of them. That’s one thing I really recognized. Someone in Brad McClure, he didn’t talk very much in the dressing room. He said what needed to be said. He mainly did it on the ice. That is something I’d like to bring to the table.”
DePourcq, 19, has played in over 200 games in a Vees jersey.
Last season he set career highs in points with 48, including a career high 25 goals as he helped the Vees secure their third consecutive Interior Division regular season pennant.
In the playoffs, DePourcq averaged nearly a point per-game, registering five goals and 10 points in 11 games. As a 16-year-old rookie, DePourcq won an RBC Cup national championship in 2012.
Sexton, 20, is entering his fifth and final season that he’s split between the BCHL and the Central Canadian Junior Hockey League (CCHL).
Last season was Sexton’s first with the Vees and the stay-at-home defenceman picked up three goals and nine points in 58 regular season games. The rugged rear-guard picked up another three assists in 11 playoff games while logging heavy minutes on the blue-line.
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Prior to joining the Vees, Sexton played three seasons in the CCHL, splitting time between the Gloucester Rangers and the Smith Falls Bears.
The Ottawa, Ont. native has played in over 240 games between the BCHL and CCHL. Captaincy runs in the family, as Patrick’s brother Ben was a captain for his junior and senior seasons at Clarkson University and so too was his dad Randy when he played at St. Lawrence University.
“It’s an honour knowing the guys who wore the C in years past for this organization that has such a great history and reputation,” said Sexton. “It’s a bit surreal knowing you’re grouped in with guys like Brad McClure and Troy Stecher and Logan Johnston before that.
“I’m excited about next season already, as we have a great group of returning players and solid crop of recruits. I’m looking forward to leading the team and growing the Vees brand alongside Cody.”
The rest of the leadership group will be named at the conclusion of the teams main camp in August.
