Two Vees commit to NCAA schools

Press Release

The British Columbia Hockey League's Penticton Vees are pleased to announce that a trio of players have secured post-secondary scholarship commitments for the 2010/11 hockey season.

20-year old forward Andrew Pickering is set to attend the University of Alaska-Anchorage and suit up for the NCAA Division I SeaWolves. Pickering joined the Vees at the 2010 trade deadline following stints in Victoria, Prince George, Trail and Merritt and contributed 13 points in 17 regular season games.

The West Vancouver, B.C. product totalled 133 BCHL games over three seasons and scored 36 goals and 97 points during his time in the league.

"Andrew did all that we asked after he joined the team in January and proved to be a versatile player with good offensive instincts," says Vees head coach Fred Harbinson. "Like most youn men in our league, Andrew's dream was to go to an NCAA Division I program and we're very happy that he is going to a strong team in a very good conference."

20-year old defenceman Bo Dolan has secured a scholarship commitment to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he will compete for the NCAA Division I Engineers. Dolan scored nine goals and totalled 25 points in his first BCHL season despite missing over seven weeks of action due to a broken leg.

"Bo brought a great deal of energy to our defence corps and he was good in all areas of his game," says Harbinson. "We missed him a great deal when he was out of the line-up, but he came back even stronger than when he left. We're going to miss him next season, but he was ready for college and he's going to be a big-time contributor at RPI."

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)