A pair of Penticton Vees were recognized by the B.C. Hockey League on Friday morning, April 1, just one day after the team opened up its first-round playoff series against the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Forward Josh Nadeau and head coach Fred Harbinson are officially in the running for some hardware after being nominated for two different BCHL annual awards.
Nadeau was named as a finalist for the Bob Fenton Trophy, given to the league’s most sportsmanlike player “who excels at the game.”
Committed to the University of Maine, he became the first member of the Vees since 2015-2016 to score 40 goals in a season. Nadeau did so while only taking eight minor penalties all season.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks’ Noah Serdachny and Chilliwack Chiefs’ Cameron Johnson join Nadeau in being nominated for the annual award.
Harbinson, meanwhile, was nominated for the Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy for his efforts behind the bench. The award is given annually to the Coach of the Year.
The Vees’ president, general manager and head coach earned the franchise its 15th Ron Boileau Trophy for finishing with a 43-8-1-2 regular-season record, the best in the BCHL.
Harbinson was joined by Alberni Valley Bulldogs head coach Joe Martin and Silverbacks’ bench boss Tyler Shattock as the award’s nominees.
The Vees dropped its opening playoff game to the Trail Smoke Eaters on Thursday night, March 31, at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Trail and Penticton will go at it yet again on Friday night for the Interior Conference’s quarterfinals series.
Fans can purchase tickets at valleyfirsttix.com or in person at the arena’s box office.
READ MORE: Penticton Vees drop playoff opener to Trail 5-3
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