Former Vipers Head Coach Mark Holick & NHL Stars Coming To Penticton:

NHL stars commit to charity classic

by Ryan Pinder July 17, 2009

Three members of the Penticton Vees will be lining up with NHLers at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame Charity Game at the South Okanagan Events Centre on July 25th.

Joining the likes of Jarome Iginla, Chuck Kobasew, Duncan Keith, Cliff Ronning and other pros past and present are local power forward Logan Johnston, diminutive 2009 BCHL Interior Conference Rookie of the Year Garrett Milan and Ohio State bound defenseman Devon Krogh.

Imagine a line of Ryan Smyth, Jarome Iginla and Garrett Milan, or a defense pairing of Devon Krogh and Duncan Keith and you can start to feel the excitement that will fill Penticton on the 25th of July.

Devon Krogh is already feeling that rush: “I’m just so honoured to be selected to be on the same sheet of ice as these guys.” Off to Ohio State next year Devon will have his hands full defending the cast of stars.

Committed to the charity event to date are 4 invited players to Team Canada’s 2010 Olympic Camp in Ryan Smyth, Jarome Iginla, Duncan Keith and Shea Weber.

The inaugural event is set to benefit minor hockey and young kids looking to get involved in hockey. Former Penticton Bronco and current St. Louis Blues VP of Sales Bruce Affleck is organizing the event after hearing registration numbers at the grassroots level have been dropping in Penticton in recent years.

Here is a look at the roster of players committed to the event.

NHLers
Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames)
Chuck Kobasew (Boston Bruins)
Ryan Smyth (LA Kings)
Andrew Ladd (Chicago Blackhawks)
Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks)
Shea Weber (Nashville Predators)
Matt Pettinger (Tampa Bay Lightning, UFA)
Justin Pogge (Toronto Maple Leafs, RFA)

NHL ALUMNI
Cliff Ronning (1137 NHL Games, 869 Points)
Dave Babych (1195 NHL Games, 723 Points)
Paul Reinhart (648 NHL Games, 560 Points)
Stan Smyl (896 NHL Games, 673 Points)

VEES
Garret Milan (2009 Interior Conference Rookie of the Year)
Devon Krogh (Ohio State 2009/2010)
Logan Johnston (Local Power Forward)

COACHES
Pat Quinn (Edmonton Oilers)
Tom Renney (Edmonton Oilers)
Fred Harbinson (Penticton Vees)
Mark Holick (Kootenay Ice & Under 18 National Team)

SPECIAL GUEST
Taylor Kitsch (Actor from TV show Friday Night Lights)

Tickets are available at SOEC.ca, or by phone at 1-877-763-2849.

Ryan Pinder is the play-by-play voice of the Penticton Vees. Check out his blog at

http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/