Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Penticton Vees Name Former Vipers Head Coach/GM McKee New Assistant Coach:

The Penticton Vees have named former Vernon Vipers Head Coach/GM Jason

McKee new Assistant Coach.

Here is the press release from the Penticton Vees website,

Vees announce Jason McKee as Assistant Coach | Penticton Vees

McKee played two seasons at Michigan Tech University from 1997-1999 before signing his first professional contract with the ECHL Richmond Renegades in 2000. McKee retired from professional hockey in 2005 before getting his first coaching job with the Alberta Junior Hockey League Spruce Grove Saints in 2006.

McKee spent parts of five seasons with the Vernon Vipers from 2019-2024. McKee was named Head Coach/GM May 7th 2019 mutually parted ways with the Vernon Vipers March 16th 2024.

Jason McKee's Player/Coaching Profile:

Jason McKee - Stats, Contract, Salary & More (eliteprospects.com)

5 comments:

vipersdiehardfan said...

I was shocked when I read this today. I didn't think McKee would get another coaching job after what happened in Vernon and especially to get hired on with the Vees. McKee is a terrible coach, I never heard one good thing about him. I wonder what the Vees see in McKee? I'm sure glad he's no longer here! Five years of losing hockey/poor Vipers teams was long enough.

Bingo said...

Maybe Mckee and Harbinson are old school and the owners thought they would be good together.Again mckees world not a good fit in todays world

bertolmstead said...

In no season during McKee's time in Vernon did the Vipers have a "losing" record. The Prince George road trip incident revealed deeper problems and maybe they've been taken care of.

Bobby C said...

It's nothing about the winning or losing record in the regular season it's about Winning when you need too in the playoffs and not being terrible leader on top of that.

PaulyWog54 said...

GM/Coach - Jason McKee
The Vernon Vipers new owners Tom and John Glen decided to replace Mark Ferner with, an associate of theirs, Jason Mckee.

GM/Head Coach, Jason McKee(58-30-24-2-2 64pts) had some success in his first year(2019-20), however the entire playoffs were canceled, after the leagues first round, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Covid Panemic continued into the 2020-21 season however, the Provincial Health Office eased restrictions enough to allow the league to play an extended exhibition/training season from September 25 to November 19. The "Okanagan Cup' tournament was established, for this pre-season, which included Penticton, Salmon Arm and West Kelowna. Penticton defeated the Vipers in the final to take the cup. For the 20 game regular season the Vipers played in a so called "POD" along with Salmon Arm and West Kelowna. The Vipers claimed top spot, recording a record of 13-5-1-1 for 28 points.

Coach McKee guided the 2021-22 Vipers to a record of 54-27-20-4-3-0 (27W & 27L)for 61 points. They placed 10th in the BCHL and 6th in the Interior Conference. In the playoffs they lost to West Kelowna, 4-1.

McKee guides the 2022-23 Vipers to a record of 54-27-21-2-4 (27W & 27L)for 60 points. They placed 11th in the BCHL and 6th in the Interior Conference. In the playoffs they defeated West Kelowna, 4-2 and lost to Salmon Arm, 4-1. What was notable about this season was the amount of player turnover during the early part of the regular season.

McKee guided the 2023-24 Vipers to a record of 44 GP - 26 W - 16 L - 1 otL for 53 points. He was let go from the Vipers organization "Officially" on March 16, 2024 after not being behind the bench since February 25, 2024, after some sort of player interaction/discipline following a 4-2 loss to Prince George.

Over-all as GM/Head Coach, Jason McKee's Vernon Vipers record sits at Regular Season 230GP-123W-107L, Playoffs 21GP-10W-11L for a 53.68 winning percentage.