Fred Harbinson: President/General Manager/Head Coach
2023-24 is the 17th season as Head Coach of the Penticton Vees for Fred Harbinson. Through his tenure, the Calgary, Alberta native has compiled a regular-season record of 655-174-15-39-7 (W/L/T/OTL/SOL). Under Harbinson, the Vees have won six Fred Page Cup championships, seven BC Hockey League Interior Division championships, a Doyle Cup championship, a Western Canada Cup championship and an RBC Cup National Championship.
During the 2022-23 season, Harbinson guided the Vees to a 50-3-0-1 record, as they captured the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy, as the BCHL’s top regular season team. In the BCHL Playoffs, the Vees went 16-1 en route to winning there second consecutive Fred Page Cup Championship.
Harbinson has been awarded the BCHL’s coach of the year award four times in his career, most recently in the 2021-22 season.
Steve Cawley: Assistant GM/Director of Scouting
2023-24 is Steve’s 10th season with the Vees organization. Steve has coached in over 100 BCHL playoff games, including being part of the Vees’ staff that won the 2011-12 RBC Cup National Championship. Cawley’s Assistant GM responsibilities primarily focus on scouting and recruiting future players.
Matthew Vanden Berg: Assistant Coach
Vanden Berg arrives in Penticton after spending the past two years at the University of Maine, in the role of Director of Player Development / Video Coach. Prior to joining Maine, Vanden Berg coached at the national U18 AAA level with the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals, Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, and Team Carolina. The Grand Rapids, MI, product has also served as a scout in the United States Hockey League and North American Hockey League. He has experience as a professional player development video coach with players from the NHL, AHL, NCAA, and U18. Vanden Berg has earned his master’s degree in Sports Industry Business from Northeastern University, an MBA from Marquette University, and is working towards his Doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership from Creighton University.
Mark MacMillan: Assistant Coach
MacMillan joins his hometown team after two seasons as the General Manager & Head Coach of the Summerland Steam in the KIJHL. Prior to coaching, MacMillan played six seasons of professional hockey in the AHL, ECHL, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark. The Penticton, B.C., product played four years at the University of North Dakota and two seasons in the B.C. Hockey League with the Vees and Alberni Valley Bulldogs. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round in 2010 NHL Draft. MacMillan is also the Vice President and Skating Coach with the hockey specific training company, Skate with Power.
Matt Miller: Director of Hockey Operations
The 2022-2023 season will be Matt’s eighth season with the Vees. Matt spent the 2012-2016 seasons with the Vees before a three-year tenure with the West Kelowna Warriors as an assistant coach as well as one year as the team’s Assistant General Manager. Matt spent the 2019/20 season as an Assistant Coach with the Revelstoke Grizzlies of the KIJHL before returning to the Vees last season as the team’s video coach.
Matt Fraser: Skills/Strength & Conditioning Coach
Fraser returns to the organization for his seventh season as the team’s strength and conditioning coach and advising as the team’s skills coach. Fraser will work with players to maintain and increase their fitness and athletic levels and join the team on the ice for morning skills work.
Jesse Plewis: Goaltending Coach
Plewis is back for his eighth season as the team’s goaltending coach. Plewis works daily with the Vees’ goaltenders with specific on-goalie instruction. Plewis has worked across hockey, with experience in the BC Hockey League, Canadian Sport School Hockey League, and Western Hockey League.
Ed Lebler: Consultant
Luciano Somerville: Registered Clinical Counsellor / Provisional Mental Performance Consultant
Luciano is in his first season working with the Vees as their designated Registered Clinical Counsellor and Provisional Mental Performance Consultant. For the past three years, Luciano has been pursuing his education and training towards becoming a mental health professional. Throughout this period, he spent a significant amount of time researching Performance Anxiety in sport, which led him to writing his Capstone Project on the topic. Prior to his Master of Counselling degree, Luciano coached the University of Victoria Vikes men’s hockey team for one season, played two seasons of professional hockey in Sweden, and played for five years at the University of Victoria.
Josh Armstrong: Head Athletic Trainer & Equipment Manager
Armstrong brings plenty of experience to his new role in Penticton. Armstrong spent the last seven years as the Head Athletic Trainer & Equipment Manager for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He was the Head Equipment Manager for Team Canada West at the 2022 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge this past season. Armstrong also was the Head Equipment Manager for Team AJHL at the World Junior Cup in Sochi, Russia, in 2019.
Armstrong obtained an Athletic Therapy Degree from. Mount Royal University and holds certifications related to functional rehabilitation, athletic therapy, massage therapy, myofascial release, among others.
The Saint John, New Brunswick, native also is the owner of Dash Pro Sports, which offers team supplies, equipment, jerseys, and more.
Ken Brunen: Dressing Room Services
Medical Staff:
Dr. Blair Main: M.D.
Dr. Stephan Samoyloff: M.D.
Dr. Nolan Rau: M.D.
Dr. Troy Pinsonneault: Orthapedic Surgeon
Dr. David Boynton: Concussion Management Chiropractor
Kobi Boynton: Synaptic Training
Josh L’Heureux: Registered Massage Therapist
Danielle Cournoyer: Functional Movement Therapist
Mitchell Ast: Registered Physiotherapist
Scouting Staff:
Cole Borba: British Columbia
Mike Hengen: Saskatchewan
Steve Nelson: United States
Aaron Hernandez: United States – Midwest
Fraser Rodgers: Vice President of Business Operations / Director of Broadcast & Communications
Fraser is in his second season as the Vees’ Vice President of Business Operations. He returned to the South Okanagan in June 2022, after spending seven seasons in the Peach City from 2011 to 2017, including being the Voice of the Vees for the magical run of the Vees during the 2012 season, concluding with a National Championship. Rodgers was on the call for Vees BCHL Championships in 2015 and 2017 as well.
The Nanaimo, BC native has spent the previous five seasons with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as the Manager of Broadcasting, Communications and Public Relations. Rodgers handles the Corporate Sales for the Vees in his new position, while also handling the play-by-play and communications responsibilities of the team.
Ph. 250-301-6724
email:fraser@pentictonvees.com
Amanda Lysohirka: Director of Ticketing & Merchandise
Amanda is in her third season with the Vees, joining the organization in October 2021. Amanda grew up in Penticton and is now raising her family of three children with her husband in the town as well. She spent 7 years with the Royal Canadian Cadet Program before becoming a Civilian Instructor with the Department of National Defence for eight and a half years. In addition, Amanda was store manager at multiple Booster Juice locations before eventually buying into the company.
If you are interested in enjoying the Vees as a season ticket member or have questions about ticketing and merchandise, please reach her below:
250-493-8337 [Ext. 1] (Office)
We are pleased to offer, for the fourth-straight year, Vees Skills Clinics! These sessions are being organized for the five Fall days that our young, local hockey players do not have school. All sessions will be held at the South Okanagan Events Centre, and will be run by both Vees’ coaches and players.
The times/dates of the five sessions are the following:
- 9:30am – 11:00am Monday, September 25th
- 9:30am – 11:00am Monday, October 2nd
- 9:30am – 11:00am Friday, October 20th
- 9:30am – 11:00am Monday, November 13th
- 9:30am – 11:00am Tuesday, November 14th
The plan is to divide the ice sessions into groups, based on age. For instance, one Under 9 , Under 11 and Under 13. Interest will determine the groups and their sizes.
Cost of the five-session camp is $200.
