(Photo: Jack Murray Photography)
Graduating team Captain Nicholas Jones spoke with Vees broadcaster Fraser Rodgers Wednesday, as he cleaned out his locker. The outgoing forward spent parts of two seasons in Penticton after coming to the South Okanagan in October of 2015.
Jones led the Vees to a 41-13-1-3 regular season record, as they captured their sixth consecutive Interior Division regular season title. He led the team in scoring, putting up 25 goals and 62 points in 58 games, finishing 17th overall in BCHL scoring. In the playoffs he finished second only to Chilliwack’s Jordan Kawaguchi in scoring with 10 goals and 27 points in 21 games, leading the Vees to the 2017 Fred Page Cup championship in April; the 12th championship in franchise history.
At the Western Canada Cup in Penticton, Jones again led the Vees in scoring with 11 points in six games and was named the tournament’s Top Forward and was selected to the All-Tournament Team. The Edmonton, Alberta, product helped clinch the Vees a spot in the RBC Cup, as he put up three points in the Vees 3-2 win over Chilliwack in the RBC Cup play-in game.
At the national championship in Cobourg, Ontario, Jones was the Vees’ top scorer, compiling six points in five games, leading Penticton to a Semi-Final berth.
In 100 career BCHL regular season games, Jones amassed 46 goals and 125 points, and had another 24 goals and 60 points in 43 playoff games (BCHL, Western Canada Cup & RBC Cup). Last season he was named the team’s playoff MVP and is a front-runner to get that award once again this go around.
Jones will have a brief rest, returning back to Alberta this week, before heading down to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to embark on summer training at the University of North Dakota (UND) in the middle of June. The 20-year-old will suit up for the UND Fighting Hawks in the fall.
