By Darren Steinke /
Confidence is the key ingredient to the success Linden Vey is having this season.
The 17-year-old sophomore right-winger with the Medicine Hat Tigers is having a breakout campaign. Over the Tigers first 44 regular season games, Vey is second in team scoring with 12 goals and 26 assists, and he has a plus-four rating in the plus-minus department. His assist total is tops on the team.
Vey said the experience he gained as a 16-year-old rookie last season helped prepare him for the current campaign.
“I think coming into this year I was feeling a lot more confident out on the ice,” said Vey. “Coming in, I knew that, if I got the ice time, that I could perform.”
In his 16-year-old rookie campaign, Vey had the typical modest season putting up eight goals, nine assists and a plus-six rating in the plus-minus department in 48 games. Having been an offensive standout all through minor hockey, Vey was not accustomed to putting up lower point totals.
During his only season of Midget AAA hockey with the Saskatchewan based Beardy’s Blackhawks, Vey netted an impressive 28 goals and 44 assists in 44 games.
“Obviously, it is tough as a young guy,” said Vey about his point production in his rookie season with the Tigers. “All my life I have grown up being one of the star players.
“I put up lots of points. It was tough for me to sit on the bench. At the same time, it was a big learning experience.”
Tigers associate coach Shaun Clouston said the team’s coaching staff envisioned Vey being an offensive force. The bench boss believes Vey was able to take a step up due to his experience as a 16-year-old rookie.
“He is starting to be able to do the things that he wants to do with the puck offensively,” said Clouston. “I think it is just a progression. I think the confidence is a big part of it. I think he is a little bit stronger.”
While he has had a lot of success this season, Vey had to face disappointment in not being named to play in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which was held on Jan. 13, 2009 in Oshawa, Ont. Despite not seeing this goal come true, Vey is looking to improve to the point, where he could be drafted into the NHL and possibly make Canada’s world junior team.
“There are lots of setbacks in life,” said Vey, who stands 5-11 and weighs 177 pounds. “You can’t let those things bother you. You just have to keep playing hockey.
“You play it because you love it and just keep working hard.”
MCCUE BACK
Immediately after returning from the WHL’s Christmas break, the Tigers thought they would be without overage defenceman Matt McCue.
Hours before a Dec. 27, 2008 home game against the Swift Current Broncos, McCue signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks were going to assign McCue to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Iowa Chops, but elected to return him to the Tigers after the first five games of the Christmas break. The Ducks want McCue to work on his skills.
McCue has five goals, 12 assists, a plus-11 rating in the plus-minus department and 108 penalty minutes in 35 games with both the Tigers and Brandon Wheat Kings this season. The Tigers acquired McCue from Brandon in a trade in the middle of October. |