The learned a lot about themselves while sweeping the Bandits in Brooks.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e highly skilled. We can score goals,乌鸦传媒� said newly minted assistant captain Jonny Tychonick. 乌鸦传媒淲e can乌鸦传媒檛 give up. We have a different team than last year. This team is exciting. It乌鸦传媒檚 been very good.乌鸦传媒�

Taylor Ward, also named an assistant captain with Tychonick, said they are a smart team that adapts well. He feels they are further ahead than last season乌鸦传媒檚 Vees. Vees head coach-general manager Fred Harbinson liked what he saw from the players, and not because the team won both games in Alberta. It was they way they played.

乌鸦传媒淭he intensity, the emotional aspect of it, going on the road,乌鸦传媒� explained Harbinson. 乌鸦传媒淚t was a good environment to really press our guys. For a lot of the new guys to understand what real junior A hockey looks like. It was their whole lineup, both nights. It was great to see our guys elevate our game.乌鸦传媒�

Friday, the Vees, ranked No.1 in Canada in the Canadian Junior Hockey League乌鸦传媒檚 preseason rankings, kick of the B.C. Hockey League乌鸦传媒檚 56th season in Merritt at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Harbinson said it is hard to get players ready for that game. He warns them about the smaller rink and that everything happens fast.

乌鸦传媒淵ou make one mistake and the opposition is right on top of your net,乌鸦传媒� said Harbinson. 乌鸦传媒淭he first couple weeks is always about trying to work on the way we want to play, our structure.乌鸦传媒�

Ward said it is just about preparing for the smaller rink.

乌鸦传媒淚t just comes down to executing our game plan is crucial, but it乌鸦传媒檚 the first game of the season,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭here is bound to be mistakes. We乌鸦传媒檙e just going to grow, learn from it, whether we win or lose, we乌鸦传媒檙e going to learn from the game and just keep moving forward.

On Wednesday the Vees added another piece to their group with the signing of Henry Enebak.

乌鸦传媒淭he addition of Henry brings another big body (5-11, 190 pounds) that plays a two-way game,乌鸦传媒� Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson said. 乌鸦传媒淗enry is a former captain who checks out as a great character kid.乌鸦传媒�

The Prior Lake, Minn., product spent the last four seasons playing in the United States High School league, putting up 85 goals and 93 assists in 157 games. He played in two of the prestigious Minnesota State high school tournaments, scoring twice with four assists in eight games. Enebak has a scholarship to St. Cloud State University for the fall of 2019.

Harbinson said Eneback possesses a heavy shot. His addition will push the competition within the Vees roster for a spot in the lineup.

乌鸦传媒淥ne of the things we learned a year ago is our competition within our own group really pushed our guys,乌鸦传媒� said Harbinson. 乌鸦传媒淲e constantly had guys in and out of the lineup that contributed. I think we have 14 forwards that can all bring something to the table. I think we乌鸦传媒檙e going to be a team that will rely on its depth and its speed and it has been a recipe for success in the past.乌鸦传媒�

Enebak will wear No. 25 and make his Vees debut Friday when the regular season begins in Merritt.

Vees forward Shane Allan is injured and has been placed on the injured reserve.

The rankings are based upon a variety of factors, which includes the league in which the teams belong to, last season乌鸦传媒檚 results in regular season and playoffs as well as initial recruiting efforts for the upcoming season.

The Vees have rival packs available at their office, which can be ordered by contacting Laura Carleton. Five regular season games against the Vees biggest rivals, including the home opener Sept. 29 against West Kelowna and the rematch of last year乌鸦传媒檚 Fred Page Cup final against Chilliwack Nov. 25, for just $59. And receive a free $10 gift card to the Vees store, the Blue Zone. 250-493-8337 ext. 4.

sports@pentictonwesternnews.com
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