2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
2014
HOSTED BY:
MIDGET VEES 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
TOURNAMENT CONTACTS 3
ITINERARY 4
MAP 5
SPONSOR HOTELS 6
SPORT STORES / SKATE SHARPENING 7
HISTORY OF PENTICTON 7
PENTICTON AND AREA 8
TO DO IN PENTICTON 9
HISTORY OF THE VEES 10/11 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
CONTACTS
HOST ASSOCIATION CONTACTS:
TOURNAMENT CHAIR: Brian Hutcheson [email protected] 250.809.8462
COMMITTEE: Karen Sinclair Linda McLean Susan Hook Leslie Blake PMHA CONTACT: Bruce Judd [email protected] 250.492.0509 BC HOCKEY ASSC. CONTACT: Andrew Jakubeit [email protected] 250.307.5997 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
ITINERARY ITINERARY
SATURDAY MARCH 15, 2014:
- 2:00 PM TO 5:00 PM TOURNAMENT CHECK IN & PACKAGES MEMORIAL ARENA - 5:45 PM COACHES MEETING TRADE & CONVENTION CENTRE: BOARDROOM - 6:30 PM TO 8:00 PM BANQUET: PLAYERS, COACHES & MANAGERS TRADE & CONVENTION CENTRE: SALON B/C
SUNDAY MARCH 16, 2014: DAY #1 ROUND ROBIN GAMES
- BEFORE GAME #4 OPENING CEREMONIES MEMORIAL ARENA - BEFORE EACH FIRST GAME: EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS BC HOCKEY OFFICIALS
MONDAY MARCH 17, 2014 DAY #2 ROUND ROBIN GAMES
TUESDAY MARCH 18, 2014 DAY #3 ROUND ROBIN GAMES
WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, 2014: PLAYOFF GAMES:
- CLOSING CEREMONIES AFTER CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
MAP 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
SPONSOR HOTELS
BEST WESTERN INN AT PENTICTON 3180 SKAHA LAKE ROAD PENTICTON, BC, V2A 6G4 1-800-668-6746
RAMADA INN & SUITES PENTICTON 1050 ECKHART AVE WEST PENTICTON, BC, V2A 2C3 250-492-8926
SANDMAN HOTEL PENTICTON 939 BURNABY AVE WEST PENTICTON, BC 1-800-726-3626
PENTICTON LAKESIDE RESORT 21 Lakeshore Drive West, Penticton BC V2A 7M5 Penticton, BC V2A 7M5 250.493.8221 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
SPORTS STORES
CANADIAN TIRE 960 RAILWAY ST. PENTICTON, BC V2A 8N2 (250) 492-3576
- SKATE SHARPENING, EQUIPMENT
GAMETIME SPORTS 500 RAILWAY STREET PENTICTON, BC (250) 492-7477
- SKATE SHARPENING, EQUIPMENT
SPORTCHEK 2701 SKAHA LAKE RD PENTICTON, BC (250) 276-8370
- SKATE SHARPENING, EQUIPMENT 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
HISTORY OF PENTICTON
THE HISTORY OF PENTICTON Pen‐tic‐ton, or snpintktn as translated from the interior Salish language of the Okanagan First Nations, means "a place to live forever" (the commonly accepted translation) or "a place to live year‐round". Tom Ellis, the first Non‐Native settler in the area, took the meaning to heart and settled here in 1865. Tom Ellis, from England, planned the formulation of the new town. In 1892, a townsite was laid out around the Smith Street area. The street is now called Front Street, home to many unique stores and boutiques. By 1907, Penticton had grown to the bountiful size of 600 residents, and was officially recognized by the British Columbia Government as a municipal district. In the teens, the building of the Kettle Valley Railroad increased the population to around 1500 people. By 1921 the city was 4,000 strong, but it took until 1948 for Penticton to gain City Status. The early days were difficult for road travel, but with the proliferation of the automobile and the constant increase in population, road‐building was in full‐force by the 1920's. Prior to this, travel was done primarily by water, up and down the Okanagan Lake, which runs from Vernon in the north to its southern tip at Penticton. Much of this travel was aboard the S.S. Sicamous. Although not the first, but probably the most famous stern‐wheeler to grace Okanagan Lake, the S.S. Sicamous was known as the Queen of the Lake. She was built in Port Harbor in Ontario and assembled in Okanagan Landing for her maiden voyage on July 1st, also Canada's birthday, in 1914. Many of the servicemen heading for WWI began their journey aboard the S.S Sicamous. Demoted to carrying freight in 1935, was then retired two fruit seasons later. Penticton purchased her from Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1949 for $1. There have been many historic moments throughout the years. In 1911, Wade's General Store, owned and built by founder Tom Ellis' brother in Law A.H. Wade, burnt down, never to be replaced. In 1917, women get the well‐deserved right to vote. Alcohol becomes illegal in B.C. In 1922, Dave Riordan is in high spirits as his new house is completed. In 1942, most of the city was submerged by a spring flood. In December 1950, Penticton was shocked by a plane crash. In March 1955, the Penticton Vee's hockey team brought home the World Cup after defeating the U.S.S.R 5‐0. Many changes have come to Penticton. The city now has a population of approximately 33,000 and continues to grow. Still, if you listen hard on a quiet night, you can almost hear the horn of one of the old steamwheelers, announcing its arrival on the beach. 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
PENTICTON & AREA
LOCATION AND AREA The City is located in BC's south centre region, collectively known as the Okanagan Valley or simply the Okanagan. It is renowned the world over as one of the most pleasant areas in Canada in which to live. The valley is the northern extension of the Columbia River basin, and forms a high temperate desert area in Canada. From the Town of Osoyoos at the United States border to Salmon Arm at the northern extreme, the Valley stretches over 200 km, yet averages only 10 km wide for most of that distance. Most of the South Okanagan area falls within the jurisdiction of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS), which includes the City of Penticton. It is estimated there are now over a quarter of a million people living in the Okanagan. The area has become a prime residential destination for small business relocations due to the gentle climate, excellent transportation and the availability of world class recreational opportunities. The Okanagan offers business and investment opportunities in a location that is second to none. Penticton is located at latitude 49 degrees, 28'; longitude 119 degrees, 36'. The city's area is 4,447 hectares (about 17.5 square miles). The elevation at the Penticton Regional Airport is 344.4 meters (1,130 ft.) above sea level. Okanagan Lake is one of British Columbia's best known and largest warm water lakes. The lake is over 120 km long and connects the three major urban centres of Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. Okanagan Lake has also gained an international reputation as the home of the famous lake monster Ogopogo. Skaha Lake, located at Penticton's south end is over 24 km long and also offers warm waters to enjoy. Many relax by floating down the 6 km long river channel that connects Okanagan Lake to Skaha Lake. 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
TO DO IN PENTICTON
LANDMARK CINEMA 250 WINNIPEG ST PENTICTON, BC
SUN COUNTRY BOWLING 1035 WESTMINISTER AVE E. 250‐493‐6412
APEX MOUNTAIN RESORT 250‐292‐8100 1‐877‐777‐APEX
THE DOMINION RADIO ASTROPHYSICAL OVSERVATORY 717 WHITE LAKE ROAD PENTICTON, BC 250‐497‐2300
CUE ‘S GAME ROOM 342 MAIN STREET PENTICTON, BC 778‐476‐5546 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
HISTORY OF THE PENTICTON VEES
PENTICTON VEE’S HISTORY In 1955 the Penticton Vees were a small town hockey team that belonged to all of Canada. This "Gas House Gang" from the Okanagan peach country (the team's nickname refers to three varieties of peaches grown in Penticton) was a fairy tale dream come true. The hard nosed hockey team from a town then of 14,000 went to Germany, conquered mighty Russia and avenged a stinging Canadian defeat the previous year and, for one glorious year, rule the amateur world of hockey. The Vees had qualified for their trip to the World Hockey Championships in 1954 when they defeated the Sudbury Wolves in one of the most gutgrabbing, nail‐biting Allan Cup series in history. At one point in the series the Vees were within 12 seconds of elimination. Yet victory was an obsession for the Vees. Defeat was not an option in their minds. They won their Allan Cup and in 1955 they went to Dusseldorf, Germany for the World Championships The boys from Penticton were not just going to Europe looking for a world championship. No, they're task was much more important than that. They were there with the singular purpose of beating the surprise reigning champions from Russia and return amateur glory to Canada where they, and everyone else in the country, felt it rightfully belonged. They were a rag‐tag bunch if there ever was one. The team was composed of former pros and home grown kids. Their hockey was far from a beautiful finesse game, no nothing like that. They played brutally physical hockey, a style that drew much ire from media, fans and teams in Europe.
The backbone of the team were a trio of brothers, Grant, Bill and Dick Warwick. Grant, a gnarled, scarred former NHL rookie of the year was the playing coach and inspirational force of the team. Bill was a husky bully who scored goals by the bushelfull, but usually only after intimidating the opponents with high elbows. Dick, the youngest of the three, was the choir boy of the bunch, said to be a graceful skater with a sharpshooter's aim. Slender Ivan McLelland was the goalkeeper. The rest of the team was made up of long forgotten names: Hal Tarala, Crusher Conway, Jim Middleton, Jim Fairburn, Doug Kilburn, Mike Shabaga, Bernie Bathgate, Jack MacDonald and George McAvoy. The crew's task was mindbogglingly enormous, as representing Canada at the Worlds was never more important. The Russians shocked the world by dusting off Canada, the only hockey power at the time, in their very first World Championship, the year prior in 1954. They played an amazing brand of hockey, declaring to the world that they were as good if not better than Canada at hockey, setting up a rivalry that runs to this day. Grant Warwick knew the task was not going to be easy. He knew the only way to beat Russia (he was not even so much concerned with the making the finals as much as defeating the Ruskies) his team would have to out hit and out muscle the Soviet team made of men from the armed services. He set up a rigorous pre‐tournament schedule of exhibition games, which, purposely or not, served to spread the word around Europe about the aggressiveness of the Canadian team. Both the Soviets and the Vees rattled off perfect 7‐0 records, setting up the final game of the tournament, conveniently against each other, as the championship game. The winner won the championship, the loser lost so much more than just a game. A reported 10,000 spectators somehow filled the 7000 seat Krefeld Arena on the outskirts of Dusseldorf to witness a game so filled with tension that no one would forget this game. It was obvious who the 2014 BC HOCKEY MIDGET TIER 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
HISTORY OF THE PENTICTON VEES
PENTICTON VEE’S HISTORY cont. fans wanted to win. The Vees bully tactics did not sit well in Germany. The game itself was no contest. Say what you want about the Vees tactics, but the Soviets were no match for the Penticton boys on this night. The Vees intimidated the Russians with lusty checking checking early in the game, causing the Russians to shy away. "They quit on us, quit dead cold," barked Grant Warwick. "We banged 'em around good and hard and after we jumped into a 3‐0 lead in the second period, that was it. Mike Shabaga scored in each of the first two periods. Bill Warwick also scored twice, with George McAvoy putting the game out of reach with the fifth goal in the third period. Goalie McLelland took care of everything else, turning aside all Soviet shots for his 4th shutout in the 8 game tournament. His puny 0.75 GAA led the tournament. Bill Warwick led the way as the tournament's top scorer, tallying 14 goals and 22 points. The Vees outscored their opposition by a combined score of 66‐6. The Vees victory led to almost more relief than joy. "We won. Thank god we won," Grant Warwick was quoted saying. His team had just gone through a schedule of 16 games in 19 nights (including exhibition games), all on unfriendly European soil. And they carried the weight of a nation while doing so. Back in Penticton there was much joy following the game. The town came to a virtual standstill until after the game when everyone jammed downtown to celebrate together. The next day in Ottawa, Parliament put off all serious business while the Speaker of the House boasted about the new world champions. Governor General Vincent Massey, Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and other politicians sent congratulatory telegrams. When the club returned to Canada they received a national welcome not often seen in Canada, for any event.