The Penticton Vees, Canada’s third best junior A hockey team, opened 2016 by pasting the Vernon Vipers at Kal Tire Place 6-0, then smoking the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 6-1 at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Jan.2.
Vees captain Tyson Jost really liked how the team played to improve its record to 33-4-0-1.
“I think our team responded really well after the Christmas break,” said Jost, who picked up his first fight against Damian Chrcek with 20 seconds left in the second period against Salmon Arm. “Everybody was excited to get back in the room and see all the guys again. I know we got a few guys back from injury (forward Dixon Bowen and defenceman Seamus Donohue). That added a little bit of energy to our lineup. It was really nice to see all the guys clicking. Everybody contributing too.”
A big contributor was Scott Conway, who bagged hat-tricks in both games.
On Monday, Conway announced his commitment to the Providence College Friars for 2016-17 on Twitter.
“It was a difficult process choosing on where I was going to play after this year but Providence just felt like the right fit,” said Conway in a team statement. “They’ve got a great program under head coach Nate Leaman, who’s established a winning tradition there, and they play in one of the best hockey conferences (Hockey East).”
Conway joined the Vees from the Penn State University Nittany Lions where he was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie team after putting up 26 points in 34 games. Conway was dismissed for violating team rules. Since joining the Vees he has been a key contributor leading the team in scoring with 37 goals and 77 points. That has him ranked second in the BCHL. He also has 10 game-winning goals, including four in overtime.
Conway said he had more than 20 schools interested and narrowed it down to the Friars, Denver University and Maine. One of the things that Conway loves about the Friars is its small campus, located in Rhode Island, and it has a feeling of home. There are also two players he knows: Steven Ruggiero and Brian Pinho. Conway played with Pinho in the USHL and attended the Anaheim Ducks rookie development camp with Ruggiero. Conway said the Friars, defending NCAA champions, like that he is a top-six forward that works hard and has offensive instincts.
“(I’m) looking forward to seeing what I can do in that league,” said Conway.
“It’s pretty special. whenever any teammate gets to commit to a college, a Div 1 school and a good school like that, its exciting. you’re happy for him,” said Jost. “He’s having a great year. It’s pretty special when you see a teammate like that go to Providence.
“I think it’s going to add a little bit of energy to his game too,” he continued. “I know when I committed to North Dakota, it brought that little boost to my game. I’m sure he is feeling pretty excited right now. He’s riding a high and he should. He deserves it.”
Vees notes: Forward Demico Hannoun is expected to miss two more weeks, while Mitchell Brooks is now out a week and Easton Brodzinski is probable for this weekend. Defenceman Gabe Bast is still unknown.
