About 200 fans gathered at the South Okanagan Events Centre Monday to welcome home the national Junior A hockey champion Penticton Vees.
Cheers erupted as the Vees stepped off the bus hoisting the Royal Bank Cup, even more so when Penticton-born players Cody Depourcq and Logan Johnston took their turn with the trophy.
Vees’ head coach Fred Harbinson spoke highly of the Penticton fans, some of which yelled “great job” and “way to go Fred” as he came off the bus Monday night.
“They have been unbelievable all the way through,” said Harbinson. “Since Christmas time I don’t think we have had a crowd under 2,000 and in the playoffs, round three, and in the last game, almost 5,000. They have been a big push for us when we need that push.
“We had a great group of people that came out and supported us in Humboldt and we hear about all the things going on back home people going to the SOEC or just going to the bars and watching the games. This town deserves a lot of credit and they definitely deserve this championship.”
After losing their first two games of the tournament, the Vees bounced back. Michael Garteig shut the door in the semifinal helping the Vees to a 3-0 win over the Soo Thunderbirds, sending them to Sunday’s final against the Woodstock Slammers.
The Vees took a 2-0 lead in the final but the Slammers went ahead 3-2 in the third period. Bryce Gervais scored late in the game to equalize and then Joey Benik netted the powerplay winner with just 50 seconds left.
Vernon’s Alex Jewell, 17, jumped on the celebatory dogpile in his civvies after the championship game. Jewell got in three RBC games.
“When we scored that goal, it was such an emotional moment,” Jewell told The Morning Star. “It was unreal. I was so happy for all the guys. They certainly deserved it for all the hard work they did.”
Jewell said the Vees celebrated on burgers, chicken and fries at the same Humboldt restaurant they dined at all week.
“Then we all went back to one room back at the hotel; nothing crazy.”
Jewell is back in Vernon, attending Grade 12 at Kalamalka Secondary. He plays Friday night in the opening Vees’ spring camp scrimmage.
Vees’ fan Jean Mitchell showed up to greet the team and the RBC Cup on Monday dressed in a white t-shirt with the Vees logo on the front and the autographs of all the players on the back. After three years of following the team, she decided to get season tickets in section 108 this year.
“I sit right behind the bench and I love it. I got their backs so to speak.”
