Saturday, June 1, 2013

VEES ADD THREE KEY PIECES

Press Release sent to The World of Junior Hockey

PENTICTON, BC –The Penticton Vees Jr. ‘A Hockey Club is pleased to announced the commitments of forwards Anthony Conti (95), Riley Alferd (95) and defenseman Brett Beauvais (94) for the 2013-2014 season.

Vees Head Coach and General Manager Fred Harbinson says the three recruits are key pieces for another long playoff run,

“There are many different attributes needed to build a championship team.  In one week we have added significant toughness, speed, and veteran leadership to our D core. We are very fortunate to add three quality people, Anthony, Riley and Brett will play a large role in assuring we compete for a championship"

Conti, 17, just completed his second season in the BC Major Midget League (BCMML) with the Northwest Giants, where he helped guide the Giants to their fifth consecutive league championship. Conti finished fifth in team scoring with 18 goals and 48 points in 35 games. The North Vancouver, BC product carried his regular season success into the playoffs, where he collected three goals and eight points in as many games, as the Giants beat Okanagan Rockets in the best-of-three BCMML Final. Conti has the prototypical power forward frame and is known for his hard-nosed and relentless style of play.

Alferd, 18, will be playing closer to home this fall after spending last season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of United States Hockey League (USHL). The Vancouver, Washington native had five goals and 11 points in 55 games with Muskegon in 2012-13. Prior to playing in the USHL, Alferd spent two seasons with the LA Jr. Kings U-16 program. In two seasons with the Jr. Kings, Alferd amassed 13 goals and 51 points in 69 games. Alferd is a described as an elite skater with a natural ability to develop into a consistent point producer in the BCHL.

Beauvais, 19, will bring experience and an offensive touch to the Vees blue-line this fall. Beauvais spent the past two seasons with the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Last season Beauvais tallied seven goals and 34 points in 50 games while patrolling the K-Wings blue-line, and was recently drafted 11th overall in the USHL’s Phase 2 Draft. In 129 career games over two season, the Summerside, PEI product amassed 13 goals and 59 points in the NAHL. Twice Beauvais has worn the maple leaf, suiting up for Team Atlantic at the 2010 and 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Beauvais is set to join the Bemidji State Beavers in the fall of 2014.

The Vees organization would like to welcome Anthony, Brett and Riley to the team and the South Okanagan. Fans will get their first opportunity to see the three newest Vees in late August at the teams’ Junior Prep Camp. The Vees will have more recruitment news in the coming days.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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