Tina Gibson was one of several hundred fans and residents to head down to the SOEC Monday afternoon for the 2023 "Vees Day" celebration.
What is Vees Day? It's an annual event commemorating the latest BCHL championship the team captured for Penticton. At least it seems like it's annual. That's how good this bunch of juniors has been of late.
Sunday, even a lousy weather day couldn't stop the fun. The freebie hot dogs and chips (courtesy of the good folks at IGA) went ahead as planned under a super-elongated tent just outside the SOEC, while the autograph and merch tables and the stage where folks like Vees coach Fred Harbinson and acting mayor Helena Konanz would yap with the crowd were all moved inside the building.
Just past 4:30 pm, players began arriving in antique/classic cars. One by one they'd exit their vehicles and make their way to the SOEC front door, parading through a route jam-packed with well-wishers. Needless to say, non-stop high- and low-fives were the order of the day.
And it was folks like Tina Gibson who made Sunday's event even more special.
Gibson is one of the team's most ardent fans. She's been a season ticket holder for eleven years. And she owns one of the most amazing hockey jerseys you'll ever find.
It's been autographed by each player from each of the past eleven Vees teams.
"I get them to sign my jersey every year," she said "Win or lose. And I'm sometimes here to meet them when they get home after games. Like when they lost in Salmon Arm (during the Interior Conference Final - their only 2022-23 playoff loss), I was here to meet them. I was the only one, but I was here."
Born in Edmonton where she "knew all the Oilers teams from the 80s," Gibson moved to Penticton and changed her allegiances almost immediately.
"Penticton is my home," she said Monday standing outside the Vees Day celebration. "And to be honest, I like the way the Juniors play better than the NHL. These boys are in it because they want to get to the NHL.
"And I'm quite pleased with Fred (Coach Fred Harbinson) and the staff because the boys that are on the Penticton Vees have more going on. They want to go to college and get an education. They realize that hockey's not everything.
"And it just warms my heat. I feel as proud as the boys' parents are."
A bit later, as fan-player interactions reached a peak inside the rink, Gibson got a big hug from likable left winger Beanie Richter. A hug that's probably normally reserved for family and close acquaintances. And maybe, over the years, that's what she's become.
Today, the vast majority of the 2022-23 team is on its way out. That's just the way it is some years when you’re dealing with an age ceiling and young men wanting to take their next steps in life.
In the case of rare talents like Bradly Nadeau and perhaps brother Josh, a potential pro career is on the horizon.
But we expect Tina Gibson is keeping the home fires burning and spending at least a few minutes checking out the new names on that incredible jersey.
In the meantime, the hockey world marches on. And the first game of the new season is just four months away.
