Pair of Vees make NHL grade

A couple of Penticton Vees thrilled to the sound of their names being called out at Sunday’s 2013 NHL entry draft.

Graduating Vees Wade Murphy and Jedd Soleway were both selected in the 7th and final round.

Murphy, 19, was grabbed 185th overall by the Nashville Predators.

Soleway, who is also 19, was scooped up by the Phoenix Coyotes with the 193rd pick in the draft.

Murphy is entering his freshman season at North Dakota after spending three seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). This past season Murphy led the Vees in scoring with 23 goals and 70 points in 50 games; seventh best in the BCHL. Murphy also won a silver medal with Team Canada West at the 2012 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge last November in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Soleway came to the Vees in December via trade with the Vernon Vipers that saw Dexter Dancs go the other way. Soleway averaged over a point per-game after the trade, collecting 14 goals and 29 points in 22 regular season games. The power-forward had a solid post-season run, tallying five goals and 11 points in 15. He’s is off to Madison, Wisconsin as he prepares for his first season at the University of Wisconsin.