The Vees announced on Wednesday they dealt forward Max Becker to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks for future considerations. Becker played in three of the Vees first five games this season and did not record a point. The Orange, Calif. native came to the Vees after spending the past two years in the Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep hockey program in Minnesota. Last season with the Prep team, Becker put up 14 goals and 55 points in 50 games. The trade leaves the Vees with five imports and 21 players on their roster, one below the league maximum.
On Sept.19, the Vees announced that forward Josh Blanchard (96) committed to St. Cloud State University for 2015 or '16. Vees general manager Fred Harbinson said he looks forward to getting Blanchard ready for the college game.
“Josh has had a track record of being an offensive talent and his speed and compete level make him a special player," said Harbinson in a team statement.
Blanchard, 17, is four games into his first season with the Vees and recently scored his first career regular season goal against the Trail Smoke Eaters. Blanchard scored once in four playoffs games last spring as an affiliate player. The Kelowna product played last season with the Okanagan Rockets of the BC Major Midget League finishing with a team best 29 goals in 39 games and was second in team scoring with 55 points. Blanchard picked up four more goals and five points in eight playoff games as the Rockets came within one win of their second BCMML championship in team history.
“I’ve been talking with St. Cloud for quite some time and felt like it was the best fit," he said. "I’m a competitor and I want to win and they’re building something special with their hockey program.”
Joey Benik, Joey Holka and Garret Milan are former Vees presently applying their trade at SCSU. Blanchard is now the 15th player on the Vees roster with an National Collegiate Athletic Association Division l scholarship.