Fred Harbinson: President/General Manager/Head Coach
2023-24 is the 17th season as Head Coach of the Penticton Vees for Fred Harbinson. Through his tenure, the Calgary, Alberta native has compiled a regular-season record of 655-174-15-39-7 (W/L/T/OTL/SOL). Under Harbinson, the Vees have won six Fred Page Cup championships, seven BC Hockey League Interior Division championships, a Doyle Cup championship, a Western Canada Cup championship and an RBC Cup National Championship.
During the 2022-23 season, Harbinson guided the Vees to a 50-3-0-1 record, as they captured the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy, as the BCHL’s top regular season team. In the BCHL Playoffs, the Vees went 16-1 en route to winning there second consecutive Fred Page Cup Championship.
Harbinson has been awarded the BCHL’s coach of the year award four times in his career, most recently in the 2021-22 season.
2023-24 is Steve’s 10th season with the Vees organization. Steve has coached in over 100 BCHL playoff games, including being part of the Vees’ staff that won the 2011-12 RBC Cup National Championship. Cawley’s Assistant GM responsibilities primarily focus on scouting and recruiting future players.
Cam Barker: Assistant Coach
2022-23 will mark the second season for Barker behind the bench for the Vees, following his retirement from a 15-year professional playing career. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native played in 310 National Hockey League games between 8 seasons and 4 different teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. The 3rd overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft is also a two-time World Junior Hockey Championship gold medalist as well as a Spengler Cup winner in 2012/13 and winning the French Championship in his final season of professional hockey in 2020/21.
Mark MacMillan: Assistant Coach
MacMillan joins his hometown team after two seasons as the General Manager & Head Coach of the Summerland Steam in the KIJHL. Prior to coaching, MacMillan played six seasons of professional hockey in the AHL, ECHL, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark. The Penticton, B.C., product played four years at the University of North Dakota and two seasons in the B.C. Hockey League with the Vees and Alberni Valley Bulldogs. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round in 2010 NHL Draft. MacMillan is also the Vice President and Skating Coach with the hockey specific training company, Skate with Power.
Matt Miller: Assistant / Video Coach
The 2022-2023 season will be Matt’s eighth season with the Vees. Matt spent the 2012-2016 seasons with the Vees before a three-year tenure with the West Kelowna Warriors as an assistant coach as well as one year as the team’s Assistant General Manager. Matt spent the 2019/20 season as an Assistant Coach with the Revelstoke Grizzlies of the KIJHL before returning to the Vees last season as the team’s video coach.
Matt Fraser: Skills/Strength & Conditioning Coach
Fraser returns to the organization for his seventh season as the team’s strength and conditioning coach and advising as the team’s skills coach. Fraser will work with players to maintain and increase their fitness and athletic levels and join the team on the ice for morning skills work.
Jesse Plewis: Goaltending Coach
Ed Lebler: Consultant
Brendon Kerr: Equipment Manager / Trainer
Brendon enters his 10th season with the Vees and 12th in the BCHL. Prior to joining Penticton, Kerr spent time with Powell River. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Kerr was a part of the 2005 Lakehead University Queen’s Cup Championship team. He took on the role of athletic therapist ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Ken Brunen: Dressing Room Services
Fraser Rodgers: Vice President of Business Operations / Director of Broadcast / Communications / Public Relations
Fraser returns to the South Okanagan after spending seven seasons in the Peach City from 2011 to 2017, including being the Voice of the Vees for the magical run of the Vees during the 2012 season, concluding with a National Championship. Rodgers was on the call for Vees BCHL Championships in 2015 and 2017 as well.
The Nanaimo, BC native has spent the previous five seasons with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as the Manager of Broadcasting, Communications and Public Relations. Rodgers will oversee the Corporate Sales for the Vees in his new position while also handling the play-by-play and communications responsibilities of the team.
Amanda Lysohirka: Director of Ticketing & Merchandise
2022-23 is the second season for Amanda with the Vees, joining the organization in early October. Amanda grew up in Penticton and is now raising her family of three children with her husband in the town as well. She spent 7 years with the Royal Canadian Cadet Program before becoming a Civil Instructor with the Department of National Defense for 8 and a half years. In addition, Amanda was store manager at multiple Booster Juice locations before eventually buying into the company.
If you are interested in enjoying the Vees as a season ticket member or have questions about ticketing and merchandise, please reach her below:
250-493-8337 [Ext. 4] (Office)
Kai Farenholtz: Coordinator, Social Media & Graphic Design
2022-23 season is Kai’s first with the Vees, as he joined the organization in September. Kai is a recent graduate of BCIT and is responsible for producing and managing content on the Vees’ social media pages. For graphic design inquires: kfarenholtzdph@gmail.com
