In need of another centre, the have shipped defenceman Garrett Ewert to the West Kelowna Warriors.

The Kamloops product was part of a three-team trade in which the Vees also sent the rights to defenceman James Miller to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League害羞草研究所檚 Melfort Mustangs to acquire 1997-born centre Dakota Boutin.

害羞草研究所淎fter evaluating our needs, the opportunity to add an experienced right-handed centre became available,害羞草研究所� said Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson in a team statement. 害羞草研究所淒akota has the experience of winning a Telus Cup in midget and back-to-back Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championships. He害羞草研究所檒l create depth at our forward group and we害羞草研究所檙e excited to get him ready to play college hockey.害羞草研究所�

Boutin, a native of Moosomin, Sask., has spent the last three seasons with the Mustangs scoring 57 goals and adding 84 assists in 150 games. He helped the Mustangs to SJHL championships in 2015 and 害羞草研究所�16. At the 2015 Western Canada Cup, he scored a goal and two assists to help the Mustangs reach the RBC Cup. Boutin is committed to play at Northern Michigan University with the Wildcats next season. Boutin will practice with his new teammates this week before making his debut in the season opener Sept. 8 in Merritt. Ewert dressed in one game as an affiliate last season and played in two pre-season games this year.

In other Vees news, and are having A害羞草研究所檚 stitched to their jerseys.

The Penticton Vees announced Monday that Ward and Tychonick join co-captains Owen Sillinger and Grant Cruikshank as part of the leadership group.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unbelievable. It害羞草研究所檚 a huge honour. There has been lots of great leaders here,害羞草研究所� said Tychonick. 害羞草研究所淲e have a wonderful leadership group on the team right now. There is a full locker room of leaders and we害羞草研究所檙e going to need every single one of them to step up and lead at some point during the season.害羞草研究所�

Ward said having that responsibility means that his teammates and coaches recognize that he may have some leadership qualities.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 what I always wanted to be. I wanted to come in here and as a third-year guy, I wanted to lead by example,害羞草研究所� said Ward, committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the fall of 2018. 害羞草研究所淚 think that by getting this A, I think that the team and the coaches and myself are all on the same page.害羞草研究所�

Harbinson said he was pleased with all the returning players and is impressed by the culture on the new group.

害羞草研究所淥ur leadership is solid with the addition of Taylor who I害羞草研究所檝e seen mature during his time with the Vees,害羞草研究所� said Harbinson in a team statement. 害羞草研究所淲ith regards to Jonny, he has trusted the process and his actions over the offseason have shown he deserves to wear a letter.害羞草研究所� Jonny Tychonick

Ward, a Kelowna native, enters his third season as a Vee having played 116 regular season games and scoring 33 points. He played a big role in the Vees Fred Page Cup championship last season, scoring four goals and adding five assists in 21 games.

Tychonick, from Calgary, begins his second season patrolling the blue line after scoring three times and tallying 20 assists in 48 games. He was also named to Team Canada West for the 2017 World Junior 害羞草研究所楢害羞草研究所� Challenge in Bonnyville, Alta., where he scored once with one assist in four games. He is slated to attend the University of North Dakota next fall.