The Penticton Vees 2011-2012 BCHL schedule has been released, and the club has a new Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations to announce.
Highlights of the 2011-2012 schedule include a season opening trip to Coquitlam and Chilliwack to play the Express and the new look Chiefs on the 23rd & 24th of September. The Vees home opener will occur on Friday September 30th when the Prince George Spruce Kings visit the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Vees play the Westside Warriors, Prince George Spruce Kings and the Merritt Centennials eight times; and the remaining Interior Conference clubs seven times each. Penticton welcomes Cowichan Valley, Surrey, Langley and Powell River to the SOEC while playing the remaining four Coastal Conference clubs on the road.
The home schedule features ten Friday games, eleven contests on Saturday, three Sunday afternoon affairs and six mid-week tilts. Home games are slated for 7:00 PM starts at the SOEC for most home dates this season. The schedule features three Sunday matinees, which start at 2:00 PM. Also, five of eleven Saturday games have been moved up to 5:00 PM to give families with younger children the opportunity to come to the games, as well as to avoid conflict with a 7:00PM Vancouver Canucks start time.
Notable dates in the schedule include the long-time rival and the defending Fred Page Cup Champion Vernon Vipers making their first visit to Penticton on Saturday October 15th, while the Vees closest rivals in Westside visit the SOEC on Friday November 4th. The Vees close out the regular season schedule with a pair of games in Prince George on March 9th & 10th.
Also of note, this season marks the return of the Chilliwack Chiefs to the BCHL after the Quesnel Millionaires relocated to the Fraser Valley in the off-season. The Vees will host Chilliwack three times while visiting Prospera Centre four times.
PINDER MOVES ON, RODGERS STEPS IN
The Vees would like to wish four-year broadcaster Ryan Pinder all the best in future endeavors, while welcoming Fraser Rodgers to the Penticton Vees front office team.
Pinder has resigned to pursue other media related opportunities, while Rodgers – a 23-year-old from Nanaimo, BC – has left his post with the Powell River Kings to live in the Okanagan and work for the Vees.
“On behalf of the Vees organization I would like to thank Ryan for all his hard work over the past four seasons.” Stated Vees Head Coach & GM Fred Harbinson. “I would also like to welcome Fraser Rodgers to the Vees family. Hiring Fraser gives us an opportunity for a seem-less transition in how we broadcast and keep our fans up to date on a day to day basis.”
Previous to working for the Powell River Kings last season, Rodgers spent a year covering the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos, Melfort Mustangs , and Nipawin Hawks. Rodgers has also worked with the Victoria Cougars of the VIJHL.
For more on the Vees schedule and Pinder, check the Penticton Western News.