The Penticton Vees pushed their win streak to 10 games over the weekend, Dante Fabbro has decided on his collegiate future, the Vees hold steady in the CJHL National Rankings and alumni are off to a good start in college hockey.
Fabbro Shipping Up to Boston
Vees defenseman Dante Fabbro has announced his commitment to Boston University for next season. The star defenseman leads all BCHL defensemen in scoring, with five goals and 16 points in 10 games. Fabbro scored twice Saturday in the Vees 5-1 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs and is riding an eight-game point streak. He was named to the BCHL All-Rookie team last year, after putting up 33 points in 44 games.
Boston University is one of the most storied programs in NCAA Division l Hockey. The Terriers have won five National Titles, appeared in 22 Frozen Fours, 33 NCAA Tournament appearances and have won the Hockey East Title 8 times. BU just graduated last year’s second overall pick, Jack Eichel, who’s one of 11 former Terriers to make an NHL roster on opening night this year.
Up Next
For the first time this season, the Vees will play back-to-back weekend home games this weekend, when they host two Mainland Division opponents, in the Prince George Spruce Kings and the Langley Rivermen at the SOEC. After a 1-6-0-1 start, the Spruce Kings went on the road and won two out of three on their Interior road trip last week. PG posted back-to-back 4-3 wins over Vernon and Salmon Arm on Saturday and Sunday. The Vees beat the Spruce Kings 5-2 in Prince George two weeks ago.
The Rivermen are the top team in the Mainland Division, winning seven of their first 10 games. They split their two games last weekend, shutting out Wenatchee 3-0 Friday, before losing 4-2 Sunday to Chilliwack. The two teams meet again November 20th in Langley.
It’s also the Vees annual Parents Weekend, as players parents from near and far will make the trip to Penticton to take in the weekend’s action.
Player of the Week
Scott Conway was named the BCHL Player of the Week, for the week ending October 11th, the BCHL announced Tuesday. The Vees forward had four goals, two of which were game-winners, and six points in three Vees wins last week. He scored twice in a come from behind win over Trail Wednesday and scored the overtime winner against West Kelowna Friday. He also had a goal Saturday in the Vees 5-1 win over Chilliwack.
Conway has 10 goals, five of which are game-winners, and 20 points in 11 games this year and this is the second time this year he’s been named the Player of the Week. Teammate Tyson Jost was given an Honourable Mention after tallying four goals and seven points in three games.
We’re Going Streaking
The Vees extended their win streak to 10 games over the weekend and not surprisingly, have the longest active win streak in the BCHL. Through 11 games, they sport a 10-1-0-0 record and league-best .909 winning percentage. The win streak has stretched over four weeks, as the Vees last loss was back on opening night, September 11th, in Salmon Arm. Next up is trying to match last year’s longest winning streak of 13 games. The Vees won 13 in a row from October 3rd, to November 1st, of 2014.
Speaking of streaks, Scott Conway has a league-best 10-game point streak. The 20-year-old has 20 points during that stretch which dates back to September 16th. Dante Fabbro has points in eight straight games, 16 total during that run and is the BCHL’s highest scoring defenseman. Anthony Brodeur is on a run of his own, as he has won his first seven starts with the Vees; only one of three undefeated goaltenders in the league. Brodeur has a miniscule 1.37 goals-against average and sparkling .948 save-percentage.
Top Five in the Country
For the second straight week the Vees are holding steady in fifth spot in the CJHL Top 20 weekly rankings. The Vees are the highest ranked BCHL team, with Powell River the only other team to crack the Top 20. The Vees were ranked fifth last week and haven’t moved up the rankings, despite extending their win streak to 10.
Alumni News
Curtis Loik (2010-2012) was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week, for the week ending October 10th. The senior forward at Penn State had a goal and three points in their season opening win against Canisius College. Troy Stecher (2010-2013) had two assists and was a career-best plus three in North Dakota’s season opening win against Lake Superior State on Friday. North Dakota went on to win the ice breaker tournament in Maine. Joey Benik (2010-2012) had goals in each of St. Cloud State’s wins against Alaska-Fairbanks and Alaska-Anchorage, as the Huskies won the Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage over the weekend.
