BCHL, COVID-19, editorial, Interior Conference, NCAA

A closer look at the Vees 2020-21 leadership group

Written by BCHLNetwork Staff on

 

Having a letter on your hockey sweater is a remarkable thing.

Looking down and seeing the letter “A” on your jersey along with a few other teammates is a fantastic achievement. It says that the organization trusts that you will bring your A-game each and every game. It also means providing help to those around you, including the coaching staff.

However, there’s only one person who gets to don the “C” for a team. One of the highest honours an individual has during the season in his organization is being named captain. For this season’s Penticton Vees, Fin Williams will hold the honour of steering the ship as a leader for everyone to look up to in rough times and good times.

This unusual year has been tough on all of us, and the Vees have a special group of leaders to help guide the team in the right direction.

This season the Vees will have three assistant captains and one captain. Tyler Ho, Jackson Niedermayer, and Ethan Martini will have an “A” on their chest while Fin Williams is the team’s new captain.

“We are fortunate to have been able to assemble a strong leadership group. Each will bring a different element that is necessary to have a positive impact on our team. I have complete confidence Fin will carry on the tradition of great Vees captains in the past,” said Vees president, general manager, and head coach Fred Harbinson in a news release.

Now let’s take a closer look at the players wearing letters in this unprecedented season.

Starting with the assistants, we look at Tyler Ho. The Surrey native who turns 20 in the next few weeks is one of the elder statesmen on this team and the leadership core. Ho is entering his second season with the Vees after dressing in 42 games last season. He put up 24 points in those 42 games and was a point per game player in the playoffs.

The aces

Ho has previously played in the Western Hockey League for the Vancouver Giants and Saskatoon Blades, while also suiting up for the Vernon Vipers. He brings experience in the locker room and is an excellent voice for the players.

The son of the great Scott Niedermayer, Jackson, is another assistant on the Vees. The 19-year-old, who will have his younger brother Joshua alongside him, is entering his third season with the Vees. Out of the leaders on the team, Niedermayer is the longest-tenured one. In 52 games last year, the Penticton native registered 23 goals and 45 points.

“Going into my third season in Penticton, I’m excited to have the chance to build on the winning culture that has been established here and provide leadership with my experience,” explained Niedermayer in the team’s official release.

Niedermayer will attend Arizona State University after this season, and you can be sure wants to make it a memorable one for him and his teammates.

The final “A” is Ethan Martini, who is entering his second season in the Peach City. Coming over from the Powell River Kings via trade last off-season, Martini impressed his teammates and coaching staff on and off the ice.

Before joining the Kings, Martini made stops in Trail with the Smoke Eaters and the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the US Hockey League. The soon-to-be 20-year-old had six points in 40 games patrolling the blueline last season and added another two points in the postseason.

The one leading the line while donning the “C” on his chest is Williams. The North Vancouver product will make his Vees debut once the puck drops. The youngest of the leaders at 17, Williams came over in a trade from the Prince George Spruce Kings this offseason.

Oh captain, my captain

Last season, Williams played in 40 games and had 31 points at the age of 16 and won the BCHL championship in the 2018-2019 campaign. While he is young, Williams brings in experience and will be a prominent voice on the team and had some nice words for his new teammates.

“I’ve been so impressed by all my new teammates on and off the ice, so to be named captain for such a special group is something that is a huge honour. I’m excited to help represent a program with such a rich history,” said Williams in the news release announcing his appointment as captain.

With the leadership group intact, the Vees want to make 2020-21 a joyous season in a tumultuous time and hope to bring the national championship back to the Peach City.