The Penticton Vees completed a three-team trade sending Turner Ripplinger to Portage to land Jackson Keane.
Keane, from Winnipeg, Man., played for his hometown Blues in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for the first two years of his junior career. In 102 MJHL games, Jackson posted 98 points. Keane then joined the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers for the past two seasons where he notched 11 goals and 14 assists in 76 games. Keane is the son of retired NHLer Mike Keane, who won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars. In 1,161 career NHL games, Keane had 168 goals, and 470 points to go with 881 penalty minutes. Keane currently works with the Winnipeg Jets as an assistant in player development.
Keane photo
“Jackson Keane is a player that has produced in the past and our hope is that, when put in the right situation, he will do so again this year,” said Vees coach-general manager Fred Harbinson in a team statement. “He has big game experience which we saw last year was critical in our long playoff run. Moving Turner was necessary to add Jackson, who brings a different dynamic to our team; we wish Turner the best of luck and thank him for his part in our championship run last season.”
Jackson Keane Tweet
Ripplinger had three goals and six assists for nine points in his 45-game rookie campaign for the Vees. The deal sees Ripplinger reunited with former Vee Ty Barnstable.
Keane and his new teammates will report to Penticton for the start of the 2017 training camp on Aug. 21 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Less than 100 Vees season ticket memberships are remaining for the upcoming season. Memberships are on sale for as low as $28/month including playoffs. Memberships are available at the Valley First Box Office (at the SOEC), by phoning Laura at the Vees Office, (250) 493-8337 ext. 4, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com.
