Penticton Vees coach-general manager Fred Harbinson is working as a guest coach at the Toronto Maple Leafs Development Camp July 7 to 12.
The camp will be held in Toronto and Collingwood and includes 57 players including the Leafs entire 2015 draft class. Leafs director of player development, Scott Pellerin, will oversee the camp. Harbinson will be on the ice over the six-day camp, helping instruct and coach some of the top prospects.
Harbinson just completed his eighth season behind the Vees bench and helped guide the team to a Fred Page Cup championship, a Western Canada Cup championship and a semifinal berth at the RBC Cup. The Vees have won three BCHL championships, an RBC Cup, Doyle Cup and Western Canada Cup in those eight seasons.
While Harbinson works the Leafs development camp, one current and 10 former players are at other NHL camps.
Bryce Gervais was invited by the Detroit Red Wings, as well as draft pick James de Haas. Joel Rumpel, who signed with the San Jose Sharks. is attending their camp. Troy Stecher is attending his third camp, this time with the Winnipeg Jets. He has attended the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks camps in the past. Mark MacMillan is at the Montreal Canadiens camp; Joey LaLeggia in Edmonton; Miles Gendron, Ottawa, Mike Reilly and Mario Lucia, Minnesota; Steven Fogarty with the New York Rangers, and Scott Conway, who will play for the Vees in 2015-16 attended the Anaheim Ducks camp.
The Vees open their main camp Aug.24-29. The Vees first exhibition game is Aug. 26 in West Kelowna against the Warriors. The Vees then return to the South Okanagan Events Centre for two games against the Brooks Bandits on Sept. 4-5..
Season tickets are still on-sale and are available at the Valley First Box Office (at the SOEC), or by phone at 250-493-VEES (8337).
