Vipers trigger four-player deal to land TenVaanholt
By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: August 04, 2011
Last year Jarryd TenVaanholt was a Vernon Viper killer. After a turbulent offseason, he is about to make his home in their den.
The former Salmon Arm SilverBack was dealt to the SJHL Kindersley Klippers in late June, along with Josh McKissock and Justin Elliot, in exchange for defenceman Sean Flannagan. A little more than a month later, and TenVaanholt, a 1991-born forward, is headed back to the B.C. Hockey League.
The Vipers acquired the 6-foot-1, 195-pound West Vancouver product, along with the rights to Elliot, in a four-player deal that will send ‘92 forward Dane Muench and ‘91 d-man Phil Patenaude to the Klippers.
While he still has a lot of friends on the SilverBacks, TenVaanholt said he looks forward to facing his former team on opening night (Friday, Sept. 23 at Wesbild Centre).
“I’m really looking forward to that after everything that went down,” he said.
“At the start it was kind of shocking, going from Salmon Arm to Kindersley. But as soon as I found out I was going from Kindersley to Vernon, it was a best-case scenario. I’m ecstatic right now.
“It’s really weird when you first think about it. Last year, I hated Vernon; this year, I’ll hate Salmon Arm. You can be friends (with old teammates) up until an hour-and-a-half before game time, but when you step on the ice it’s friends over (until after the game).”
TenVaanholt, a former draft pick of the WHL Swift Current Broncos, posted a respectable 22-28-50 and 46 penalty minutes in 58 games with Salmon Arm last season. Against Vernon, however, he always seemed to find another gear, recording five goals and two helpers in seven regular-season tilts.
TenVaanholt came to Salmon Arm from the KIJHL Sicamous Eagles, who he led in scoring with 60 points in 47 games in the 2009-10 campaign.
“I like to believe I’m a good two-way player, especially in my own end. I can play in any situation, and I like to chip in any way the team needs me,” said TenVaanholt, who turns 20 in October.
Said Vipers’ head coach/GM Jason Williamson: “Any time you can acquire a guy like that who put up some numbers and is hard to play against, you have to look at it. But you have to give up something good to get it.”
When the Vipers eliminated the SilverBacks from the playoffs last season, it opened up an opportunity for TenVaanholt and a handful of his teammates to travel to Russia to compete in a four-team Russian invitational tournament in Podolsk.
“That was truly an eye opener, going to Russia and playing for Canada. (The kids) all see the Canadian flag and flock to you and ask for autographs. It was one of my better hockey moments, especially after we beat the Russian junior team.”
Meanwhile, Williamson and former Viper head coach Mark Ferner wrapped up their second annual Sunvalley Showcase at Priest Valley Arena.
A total of 70 players, including a handful of Vipers, practised and scrimmaged on four teams in preparation for their respective training camps. Watching the event were scouts from college and junior levels.
“BCHL, WHL, NCAA – all levels of hockey were represented and the players got great exposure,” said Williamson, who is busy preparing for his weekend marriage to fiancee Kristin Jackson.
He added the showcase offers a good benchmark for determining a player’s fitness level before main camps begin.
“It’s a little wake-up call for some of the guys and lets them know they have to get to work.”
Vipers main camp starts Sept. 1.
SNAKE BITES: The Penticton Vees acquired netminder Michael Garteig from the Victoria Grizzlies. Garteig, who turns 20 Nov. 5, was part of a three-team trade between the Vees, Powell River Kings and Grizzlies. Penticton acquired Garteig from the Grizzlies for 20-year-old goaltender Jamie Tucker. Garteig was traded to Victoria early this week by the Kings. Penticton also traded netminder Billy Faust to the Nanaimo Clippers for future considerations.
No comments:
Post a Comment