FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, March 12th
VEES COLLECT BCHL HARDWARE
Penticton, BC– The British Columbia Hockey League announced its’ award winners for the 2011-12 season, and four members of the Penticton Vees took home major hardware.
Mario Lucia was named a recipient of the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy, as he was named the Interior Conference Rookie of the Year. Lucia led all BCHL rookies in scoring with 42 goals and 93 points; he tied teammate Bryce Gervais for the most goals in the league.
Fellow rookie, Mike Reilly took home the Interior Conference Best Defenseman Award. Reilly, 18, led all BCHL defenseman in scoring with 83 points, which is the second best points total by a defensemen in franchise history; surpassing Duncan Keith and Joey Laleggia’s previous mark of 82.
For the second consecutive year, Mike Garteig received the Goaltender Award in the BCHL. The 20 year-old led all starting goalies in wins (41), goals against average (1.93), save-percentage (.927) and shutouts (5), while only being fourth in minutes played. Last season, Garteig accepted the award while with the Powell River Kings in the Coastal Conference.
For the second time in five seasons, Head Coach Fred Harbinson was given the Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy as the Interior Conference Coach of the Year. Harbinson guided the Vees to a BCHL record 54 win and 110 point season, including a CJHL record 42 consecutive wins streak. The Vees fashioned a record of 54-4-0-2 and set a new BCHL record with a winning percentage of .917. The Vees finished without a regulation loss at home (29-0-0-1) and also set a new consecutive wins mark on the road at 22. Harbinson was named the Interior Coach of the Year in 2008 and sits second all-time in franchise wins.
