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The Penticton Vees didn‘t leave much time for local fans to speculate who the B.C. Hockey League team‘s captain will be this year.
Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson removed any doubt by announcing Tuesday that star centre Denver Manderson will return to the role he had before his 2008-09 season was cut short in January by a shoulder injury.
“Denver is a player who is highly respected by the guys,” said Harbinson. “He‘s going into his third season with our program and we feel he‘ll again be an outstanding captain.”
After Manderson got hurt, the Vees named power forward Curtis McKenzie as interim captain. However, McKenzie has decided to go to the University of Miami @ Ohio this fall instead of returning to Penticton and deferring his scholarship to 2010-11.
“We were happy to be able to develop Curtis over the last two years and see him move on to a strong conference and a strong team in Miami,” said Harbinson. “Miami felt Curtis was ready to play this season and help take their team to another level, and we wish him the very best.
“From our end, it gives other guys the opportunity to step up into a bigger role.”
The Vees also named F Adam Zamec and D Derik Johnson the assistant captains. Zamec was named an assistant shortly after joining the Vees last season from Ontario, while Johnson – son of former NHL defenceman Jim Johnson – is the Vees newest assistant.
“Johnson just has tremendous character and commitment to the game,” said Harbinson.
Harbinson said with the Vees have a large number of returning players this season.
“We‘ve got a large and strong leadership group on the hockey club,” said Harbinson. “Mandy, Zamec and Johnson will be the face of that group.”
Harbinson said he wanted to get the leadership group established as early as possible.
“These guys are committed to training hard this summer,” said Harbinson. “The captains are going to make everyone accountable.”
Manderson, a 20-year-old native of Fergus, Ont., is “way ahead of schedule” in his recovery from shoulder surgery, Harbinson said.
“He should be on the ice in another month and he‘ll definitely be ready to go for training camp (in August),” said Harbinson.
Manderson racked up 14 goals and 56 points in only 34 regular season games last season. Zamec, a London, Ont. native who turns 20 in September, had eight goals and 14 points in 35 games while playing on the Vees “shutdown” defensive line.
Johnson, a 19-year-old from Scottsdale, Ariz., pocketed seven assists and 44 penalty minutes in 28 games with Penticton and emerged as one of their most reliable defencemen down the stretch.
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