VANCOUVER – The Penticton Vees are mixing their rich history with an outstanding present and a hopeful future.
The B.C. Hockey League squad is on a 41-game win streak — a Canadian and North American junior record.
They set the mark Tuesday with a 10-0 rout of the Trail Smoke Eaters to go one win better than two Ontario clubs, the junior A version of the Sudbury Wolves (1989-90) and the now-defunct Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (1999-2000).
“It’s been a special year,” said Vees radio play-by-play broadcaster Fraser Rodgers. “People around the country realize what’s going on in Penticton.”
Penticton is a sleepy picturesque city of about 43,000 in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. The Vees draw their name from the Penticton senior amateur squad that won the 1955 world championships with an upset victory over the Soviet Union in Germany.
“It’s one of the things that drew me to coach here,” said Fred Harbinson, now in his fifth season as the team’s coach and GM. “There is a ton of pride and tradition in this franchise.”
The junior Vees set the record for consecutive wins on the 67th anniversary of the senior squad’s memorable 5-0 victory over the powerful Soviets. Ivan McLelland, who backstopped the original Vees to their world title, was in the crowd Tuesday and received a standing ovation when he was shown on the arena’s scoreboard.
Later, he congratulated players in the dressing room.
“He talks to our goaltenders all the time,” Harbinson said.
Harbinson has the chance to with the Vees (53-3-0-2) what he missed out on as a player — win a national junior A title. Harbinson, 40, won an Alberta Junior Hockey League crown with his hometown Calgary Canucks in 1988-89, but the club lost to the New Westminster Royals in the Doyle Cup playoffs, which determine the Alberta-B.C. representative in what is now known as the Royal Bank Cup.
Tuesday’s victory was also Penticton’s 53rd of the season, establishing a new BCHL record for victories in a single campaign.
The Vees have not lost since they dropped an overtime decision to Merritt at home in November. Of the 41 consecutive wins, only two have come in overtime.
The Vees, who close out the regular season with a pair of games in Prince George, B.C., against the Spruce Kings, have a chance to win its first national crown since the Penticton Knights prevailed in 1986.
A number of other NHLers, including Hall of Famer Brett Hull as well as Paul Kariya and Joe Murphy, have passed through Penticton on the way to pro careers. More are expected to graduate to the NHL or U.S. college ranks in the near future.
The Vees have 15 players who have received NCAA scholarships, with others possibly on the way. Harbinson, who played and coached at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and served as an assistant briefly at St. Cloud State in Minnesota, has used his ties in that state to recruit many of his players.
“We’re pretty deep in talent, and probably the biggest thing is: All our guys are extremely hard workers,” said Harbinson. “They come to the rink every day ready to compete and battle.”
The Vees are led offensively by Joey Benik, a 20-year-old Andover, Minn., native who has 29 goals and 65 assists in 58 games. Mario Lucia, a second-round choice (60th overall) of the Minnesota Wild last summer, and Wade Murphy, a 20-year-old Victoria native are also top scorers.
Connor Reilly, who ranks fourth in team scoring, was a fourth-round selection of the Columbus Blue Jackets, while Steven Fogarty is a New York Rangers prospect.
Harbinson suggested his players’ workmanlike attitude and calm demeanour have been the keys to the club’s success.
“You’ve got to remember: These guys are not professionals,” added broadcaster Rodgers. “They’re teenagers. This is something that you’ll probably never see again.”
Penticton finished its home portion of the regular season with a record of 29-0-0-1, picking up 59 of a possible 60 points. The record win also tied a 22-year-old BCHL record for most points in a single-season at 108. The Vees just need one point out of their last two games to set a new mark.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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