Penticton Western News, June 27, 2014

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NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN

www.pentictonwesternnews.com

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news

Boonstock organizers say they aren’t being measured fairly

VOL. 48 ISSUE 51

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FRIDAY, June 27, 2014

entertainment Courting the King; city

welcomes Elvis Festival

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Penticton hosting Western Canadian Jiu-Jitsu tourney

YOUNG STARS BACK Emanuel Sequeira

NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN

VALEDICTORIANS Cody Gannon and Sidne Hack jump for joy outside Princess Margaret Secondary School, where they and 150 other graduates recently finished their studies.

Joe Fries/Western News

Valedictorians not done with Penticton quite yet Joe Fries

Western News Staff

As many of their peers pack up and prepare to put Penticton in the past, a couple of valedictorians are planning to do just the opposite. Sidne Hack and Cody Gannon, who were selected to represent the class of 2014 at Princess Margaret Secondary School, both intend to stick around in the fall. “I’m not ready to leave yet, I don’t think,” said Hack, 18, who will now enter the business program at Okanagan College. “I love Penticton.” Gannon, also 18, wants to get a job

and save money before travelling or heading back to school. “We are blessed where we live. We truly are. We’ve got two lakes, the channel, we’ve got six or seven ski hills within a three-hour drive. There’s so many things to do,” he said. Still, “There is that sense that it is a small town,” Gannon added. “Stuff gets around.” Penticton is made even smaller by modern technology and social media, which both graduates feel has made high school harder for them than it was for previous generations. See GRADS Pg. 8

Western News Staff

Watching top NHL prospects in the Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Classic is turning into an annual event for Okanagan hockey fans. “We would sure like to see it that way,” said Stan Smyl, senior advisor to the Canucks general manager. “That’s the way we see the future of the Classic going.” The hockey club announced Thursday the event would return to Penticton in September for the fourth time. Rookie squads from the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets will attend. “We are quite excited. It’s turning into a signature event,” said event chair and city councillor Andrew Jakubeit. “We really want to showcase that.” Smyl said it’s because of the great support from Okanagan residents and the Penticton area coming out and watching the younger players. With the Oilers selecting third overall, the Flames fourth, Canucks sixth and the Jets ninth in this year’s NHL draft, Smyl said Penticton fans could potentially see highly touted prospects such as Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart or Michael Dal Colle. The 2014 Canucks Young Stars Classic will run Sept.12-15. Ticket packages will go on sale on Friday, July 11, at 10 a.m. “We are excited to host the Young Stars Classic, now in its fourth year, in beautiful Penticton,” said Trevor Linden, president of Canucks Sports and Entertainment, in a statement.

UTICA COMETS coach Travis Green has the attention of the Vancouver Canucks prospects as he draws up a drill during practice prior to a game in last year’s Canucks Young Stars Classic. The tournament is returning to the South Okanagan Events Centre in September. Western News file photo

“This is an excellent tournament to develop and assess our prospects in competitive game situations. We have amazing fans in the Okanagan and look forward to sharing an NHL experience with them while celebrating the rich hockey history of Penticton.” Tournament ticket packages include six games for $60. This allevent package offers best value to fans with savings of 30 per cent until Aug.15. A new offering this year are two VIP ticket packages for $85 and $180, respectively, plus applicable fees. Jakubeit noted that deal is aggressively priced to get packages out the door. “Especially considering the calibre of hockey that is coming here,” he said. “The more tickets we sell early the more buzz there is. We want the building full. Jakubeit also said the Young Stars Classic will continue a

hockey festival theme, making it a “must attend” event while also providing significant economic impact and exposure for the community and facilities. This year’s festivities include a Canucks Town Hall Breakfast, Minor Hockey Day, which will include a Party on the Plaza event with games, food, music and entertainment and a skills and development camps for minor hockey players. While not part of the Classic, a ticket to the Penticton Vees’ exhibition game will be included in tournament packages. Jakubeit said it’s an opportunity to showcase those players and a way to involve the Vees, who in previous years have been in Chilliwack at the same time for the Bauer BCHL Showcase. “We want to be partners to them, they give up their dressing room for the Canucks to use,” said Jakubeit. “It’s sort of a give back.”

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