Fred Harbinson: President / General Manager / Head Coach
2024-25 is the 18th 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 693-184-15-42-10 (W/L/T/OTL/SOL). Under Harbinson, the Vees have won six Fred Page Cup championships, eight BC Hockey League Interior Division championships, a Doyle Cup championship, a Western Canada Cup championship and an RBC Cup National Championship.
During the 2023-24 season, Harbinson guided the Vees to a 38-10-3-3 record, as they finished first in the Interior Division. In the BCHL Playoffs, the Vees made their third consecutive BCHL Fred Cup Final, losing in six games to the Surrey Eagles.
Harbinson has been awarded the BCHL’s coach of the year award four times in his career, most recently in the 2021-22 season.
2024-25 is Steve’s 11th 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 will be an advisor to all facets of the Vees’ Hockey Operations department.
Jason McKee: Assistant Coach
Jason McKee was named the Vees Assistant Coach on September 4th, 2024. He brings a wealth of experience behind the Vees’ bench, having coached in junior hockey for the past 17 seasons. Most recently, McKee was the general manager and head coach of the Vernon Vipers for four seasons (2019-2024). He was previously head coach of the Vancouver Giants in the WHL (2016-2018), and the general manager and head coach of the Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL (2010-2016), as well as their assistant coach previously (2006-2010). With the Saints, McKee won four AJHL championships, three as their general manager and head coach. McKee played in the AJHL with his hometown Lloydminster Blazers, before playing at Michigan Tech University.
Matthew Vanden Berg: Assistant Coach
Vanden Berg returns for his second season with the Vees in 2024-25. Vanden Berg was the Director of Player Development / Video Coach at the University of Maine before joining the Vees in 2023-24. Prior to joining Maine, Vanden Berg coached at the national U18 AAA level with the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals, Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, and Team Carolina. The Grand Rapids, MI, product has also served as a scout in the United States Hockey League and North American Hockey League. 0.
Mark MacMillan: Director of Skating & Skills Development
Mark MacMillan will lead the Vees skating and skills development in 2024-25. Previously, MacMillan served as an Assistant Coach in 2023-24. MacMillan was the General Manager & Head Coach of the Summerland Steam in the KIJHL prior to joining the Vees. 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: Director of Hockey Operations & Assistant General Manager
The 2024-2025 season will be Miller’s eighth season with the Vees. Miller has also has worked with the West Kelowna Warriors as an Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager, and the Revelstoke Grizzlies in the KIJHL. Miller has added the title of Assistant General Manager for the 2024-25 season, in addition to his role as the team’s Director of Hockey Operations and Video Coach. Miller has been a member of the hockey operations department for three championship teams in Penticton (2015, 2022, 2023)
Matt Fraser: Director of Strength & Conditioning
Fraser returns to the organization for his eighth season as the team’s strength and conditioning 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
Plewis is back for his ninth season as the team’s goaltending coach. Plewis works daily with the Vees’ goaltenders with specific on-goalie instruction. Plewis has worked across hockey, with experience in the BC Hockey League, Canadian Sport School Hockey League, and Western Hockey League.
Ed Lebler: Consultant
Luciano Somerville: Registered Clinical Counsellor / Provisional Mental Performance Consultant
Luciano is in his second season working with the Vees as their designated Registered Clinical Counsellor and Provisional Mental Performance Consultant. For the past three years, Luciano has been pursuing his education and training towards becoming a mental health professional. Throughout this period, he spent a significant amount of time researching Performance Anxiety in sport, which led him to writing his Capstone Project on the topic. Prior to his Master of Counselling degree, Luciano coached the University of Victoria Vikes men’s hockey team for one season, played two seasons of professional hockey in Sweden, and played for five years at the University of Victoria.
Josh Armstrong: Head Athletic Trainer & Equipment Manager
Armstrong is back for his second season with the Vees. Prior to joining the Vees, Armstrong spent seven years as the Head Athletic Trainer & Equipment Manager for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He was the Head Equipment Manager for Team Canada West at the 2022 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge this past season. Armstrong also was the Head Equipment Manager for Team AJHL at the World Junior Cup in Sochi, Russia, in 2019.
Armstrong obtained an Athletic Therapy Degree from. Mount Royal University and holds certifications related to functional rehabilitation, athletic therapy, massage therapy, myofascial release, among others.
The Saint John, New Brunswick, native also is the owner of Dash Pro Sports, which offers team supplies, equipment, jerseys, and more.
Ken Brunen: Dressing Room Services
Chaplain: Ron Crooker
Ron joined the Penticton Vees in 2024-25 as chaplain. Since 1995, Ron has served the Penticton community as a businessman, sponsor, youth pastor and currently, lead pastor of a local Church. Chaplaincy is a great privilege, being able to invest time and energy, into the next generation, helping players, adjust to a life away from family, find their voice, identity and place through listening as well as, being an emotional and spiritual support.
Medical Staff:
Dr. Blair Main: M.D.
Dr. Stephan Samoyloff: M.D.
Dr. Nolan Rau: M.D.
Dr. Troy Pinsonneault: Orthapedic Surgeon
Dr. David Boynton: Director of Sports Performance & Chiropractic
Kobi Boynton: Sports Performance Coach
Emily Mason: Massage Therapist
Danielle Cournoyer: Functional Movement Therapist
Mitchell Ast: Registered Physiotherapist
Scouting Staff:
Cole Borba: British Columbia
Steve Nelson: United States
Aaron Hernandez: United States – Midwest
Fraser Rodgers: Vice President of Business Operations / Director of Broadcast & Communications
Fraser is in his second season as the Vees’ Vice President of Business Operations. He returned to the South Okanagan in June 2022, 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 handles the Corporate Sales for the Vees in his new position, while also handling the play-by-play and communications responsibilities of the team.
Ph. 250-301-6724
email:fraser@pentictonvees.com
Amanda Lysohirka: Director of Ticketing & Merchandise
Amanda is in her third season with the Vees, joining the organization in October 2021. 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 Civilian Instructor with the Department of National Defence for eight 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. 1] (Office)
