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

鈥淲e鈥檙e highly skilled. We can score goals,鈥� said newly minted assistant captain Jonny Tychonick. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 give up. We have a different team than last year. This team is exciting. It鈥檚 been very good.鈥�

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鈥檚 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.

鈥淭he intensity, the emotional aspect of it, going on the road,鈥� explained Harbinson. 鈥淚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.鈥�

Friday, the Vees, ranked No.1 in Canada in the Canadian Junior Hockey League鈥檚 preseason rankings, kick of the B.C. Hockey League鈥檚 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.

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

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

鈥淚t just comes down to executing our game plan is crucial, but it鈥檚 the first game of the season,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here is bound to be mistakes. We鈥檙e just going to grow, learn from it, whether we win or lose, we鈥檙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.

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

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.

鈥淥ne of the things we learned a year ago is our competition within our own group really pushed our guys,鈥� said Harbinson. 鈥淲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鈥檙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.鈥�

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鈥檚 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 91大黄鸭 and the rematch of last year鈥檚 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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