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Vees Duncan Campbell commits to Queen’s University

Penticton Vees forward Duncan Campbell will suit up for the Queen’s University Gaels next fall.
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Penticton Vees forward Duncan Campbell has committed to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. to play in the Ontario University Athletics in U sports. Campbell, who won the Vees’ Unsung Hero Award, had 11 goals and 28 points in 40 regular season games. Jack Murray photo

Duncan Campbell fit the bill for what the Queen’s University Gaels men’s hockey team wanted in a player next fall.

“Duncan has won everywhere he has played. He is the exact type of person and player we were looking for in this recruiting year; a big, reliable forward who knows what it takes to win,” said Gaels coach Brett Gibson in a press release.

In joining the Gaels, Campbell commits to a program that is fifth in U Sports with a record of 18-7-3. The Gaels are a member of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Gibson is in his 11th season behind the bench and guided the Gaels to a third-place finish in the OUA’s East Conference. They’ve also automatically qualified for the U SPORTS national championship this week in Fredericton, N.B. The Vees announced Campbells commitment to the university based in Kingston, Ont., on March 10.

Campbell, a Brandon, Man. native, said Queen’s University’s perfect balance between athletics and academics is what drew him to the program.

“The schooling is top notch as they’re considered one of the best schools in the country and the education side is really important to me,” said Campbell. “Their hockey program is really strong too, with them being a top-five ranked team nationally and they’re competing in the (U SPORTS) national championship this year. ”

Campbell is in his final season of junior hockey. The 20-year-old tallied 11 goals and 28 points in 40 regular season games with the Vees and won the team’s Unsung Hero award. Campbell signed with Penticton in late October after playing parts of three seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Campbell scored 22 goals and 43 points in 148 career regular season games with his hometown team. He helped the Wheat Kings to the Ed Chynoweth Cup, the WHL championship, last spring.

Vees’ playoff tickets are on sale and single game tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors, and students (18 and under) and children are free courtesy of Peter Bros. Construction. Single game tickets can purchased at the Valley First box office, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com. Don’t forget to Paint the Town Blue! Vees fans are encouraged to wear blue to every playoff game, starting Friday, March 17. Game 2 is at the South Okanagan Events Centre at 6 p.m. With Games 3 and 4 at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Should the series go beyond four games, Game 5 will be at the SOEC on March 23 at 7 p.m., Game 6, if necessary, will be March 24 in Merritt at 7 p.m. and Game 7, if neccessary, returns to the SOEC on March 27 at 7 p.m.

Vees notes: University of North Dakota freshman forward Tyson Jost has been named to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) All-Rookie Team. Jost led all NCHC rookie forwards with 40 voting points, topped only by St. Cloud State defenseman Jack Ahcan (42). The St. Albert, Alta, native had seven goals and eight assists in 18 NCHC games to rank third in the rookie scoring race despite missing six conference games. Jost also led all NCHC skaters, regardless of class, in faceoff percentage (.615) and faceoff wins (201). In 28 games, Jost ranks second among NCHC freshmen in points per game (1.04), points (29) and plus/minus (+15). He has also won a school-record 61.6 percent of his faceoffs to lead NCHC rookies in that category. Jost and the Fighting Hawks defeated St. Cloud State in the NCHC Quarterfinals to advance to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff March 17-18 at Target Center in Minneapolis.