Christmas has come early for some of the Penticton Vees players who are fresh off winning a bronze medal with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge.
Captain Massimo Rizzo and defenceman Mason Snell have been named to Team West for the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Prospects game. The players just returned from Bonnyville, Alta. with teammate David Silye and Vees equipment manager, Brendon Kerr, with medals after Canada West defeated the Czech Republic 3-1 in the bronze final at the WJAC.
Silye assisted on Canada West’s game-winner, finishing the tournament with two points. Rizzo also provided two helpers in six games and scored a shootout goal in the preliminary round.
Related: Vees Rizzo helps Team Canada to win over U.S.
Rizzo and Snell will play in the CJHL Top Prospects Game in Okotoks, Alta. on Jan. 22. It is one of the premier Junior ‘A’ hockey events in the country and provides tremendous exposure for CJHL players to play in front of scouts from all over the hockey world, including the NHL, NCAA and Canadian Universities.
Rizzo, from Burnaby, is in his second year with the Vees and has recorded three goals and 13 assists in 15 games.
Related: West takes bronze at World Junior A Championship
Last season, Rizzo scored 13 goals with 26 assists in 50 games to finish second amongst 16-year-old rookies in scoring. Earlier this season he was listed as a ‘B’ ranked prospect for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, slating him to go in the second or third round. He is committed to the University of North Dakota for next season.
Related: Penticton Vees player on NHL Central Scouting players to watch list
Snell, from Clarington, Ont., is in his first season with Penticton after two years in the Ontario Junior Hockey League.So far this season Snell has appeared in 29 games for the Vees, scoring twice while adding 11 assists. He is counted on to shut down opposing teams top players as part of the Vees top defensive pairing with James Miller.
Last season Snell split the year between the Whitby Fury and Wellington Dukes, helping the Dukes advance to the RBC Cup final against the Chilliwack Chiefs. He is committed to Penn State University for next season.
The Vees are headed into the home stretch before the Christmas break. They play the Vernon Vipers at the South Okanagan Events Centre at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19 then host the West Kelowna Warriors on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
<p<
@PentictonNews newstips@pentictonwesternnews.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
