Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees Junior ‘A’ hockey club is pleased to announce 2002-born forward Cole Shepard has committed to the Vees for 2018, and will be an affiliate player for the remainder of the 2017-18 season.
Shepard, from West Vancouver, currently plays for Delta Academy Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. In the 2016-17 season with the Delta Bantam team, Shepard recorded 19 goals and 28 assists in 30 games. So far this season, Shepard has three goals and seven assists in seven games.
“Cole is an outstanding young talent who will fit very well into the way we play in Penticton,” said Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson.
For Shepard, the success and pedigree of the Vees franchise was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
“This is an organization that’s known throughout junior hockey as one of the best places to play,” Shepard said. “Fred, the rest of the coaching staff and the facilities are top notch. I’m a fast, creative guy who likes putting up points, but I know I have to crack down on defence too.”
Earlier this week, Shepard was named to Team British Columbia for the newly-branded WHL Cup, formerly known as the Western Canada U-16 Challenge Cup. The event features the highest-rated players in the under-16 age category from the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The tournament takes place from October 18 through October 22 in Calgary.
Because of his age, Shepard is ineligible to play for the Vees for the majority of the year. However, he will be available as an affiliate player for up to five games during the regular season. Once his season with Delta comes to an end, he can suit up with the Vees regularly.
