The Penticton Vees are adding some home-grown Okanagan talent to their roster by adding two members of the Osoyoos Coyotes of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) junior ‘B’ league.
The Vees have added forwards Levi Carter and Crae Dawson to their 25-man roster as affiliate players for the upcoming B.C. Hockey League season (BCHL).
Carter, a Keremeos native, also played for the Summerland Steam during the 2019 - 2020 season.
During the shortened Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) season in November, 2020, Carter led the Coyotes with five goals in their three games, and he has said he is only getting better practicing with the Vees.
“Everyone at that level is so fast. You have less time to react,” said Carter. “You really have to be able to play moving at a faster pace.”
Coyotes head coach Carter Rigby, a former Penticton Vee himself, connected with the Junior A organization to get the two players the opportunity. Carter and Dawson are affiliate players.
“It looks good for the organization and it’s better for the players, too,” says Rigby. “Both those boys and a few others were at spring camps with the Vees this past summer. They knew a little bit about them. When we shut down, they needed some bodies for practice. I reached out to Steve Cauley, their assistant GM. Levi and Crae were two guys they were interested in keeping around for this bubble.”
Dawson is Osoyoos born and raised, and picked up two goals and an assist during the KIJHL 2020 season.
“It’s a great opportunity. It’s such a great organization,” says Dawson, an Osoyoos product. “I’m just looking forward to it.”
The BCHL will begin a shortened season in April with Penticton serving as a pod city hosting Vernon and Cranbrook.
READ MORE: BC Hockey League announces shortened season will begin in April
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