If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it’s yours forever. If it doesn’t then it was never meant to be.
After winning the Fred Page Cup last season, the Penticton Vees let star forward Denver Manderson head east to the Ontario Hockey League. But almost as quickly as he left for his home province, he was back.
For Manderson, it had quickly become clear that while he may have left Penticton for Kitchener in the physical sense, his heart remained in the Okanagan. But wasn’t always that way for the native of Fergus, Ontario.
Growing up, his life was consumed by hockey and he idolized many of the players from the OHL’s Guelph Storm.
“Dustin Brown and Daniel Paille were two guys I loved to watch play when I was younger,” he says.
But as he grew older, Manderson developed a well-documented up-and-down relationship with Ontario’s Major Junior outfit. It all began with the 2005 Bantam Draft, which he considers a turning point in the hockey career. He was drafted in the 5th round, 95th overall by the very team that he had followed as a child.
“I was actually ranked higher than where I was drafted,” says Manderson. “I dropped down a lot after a rumour started that I was going to the NCAA.”
Truth was, Denver had been considering a jump to college but after being drafted by his hometown team he changed his mind. It was a decision that he’d ultimately regret.
The 2006/07 OHL season was going to be a huge step for Manderson. He was looking forward to donning the same jersey that he had watched his heroes wear as a child. He would get to skate on the very same sheet of ice and hear the roar of the fans at the Sleeman Centre. His hot-cold relationship with the OHL was once again simmering with excitement. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last long.
That season’s edition of the Storm was poised to make a deep run at the playoffs and felt having too many 17-year olds on their squad could pose a problem. Thus, Denver was deemed expendable.
“They took me into their office and explained that they were going to have to let me go,” Manderson says. “I could tell they felt really bad about releasing me because they knew I had considered going to the NCAA.”
Following Denver’s release, six other teams expressed an interest in picking him up but he eventually settled on the Kitchener Rangers. However, it was more of the same that he’d encountered in Guelph. He was relegated to the fourth line and received little playing time. He ended up suiting up for just 10 games and didn’t register a single point. Manderson’s career was once again at a crossroads following a rollercoaster season. He had choices, though. He could return to the OHL and continue on an uncertain path or he could attempt to play elsewhere. Thankfully for the Vees and their fans, he chose to come to Penticton.
“I wanted to be able to play the highest level possible and get playing time,” said Denver. “I wasn’t getting that in the OHL and it’s every Eastern boy’s dream to come out West. The BCHL seemed like the right fit for me.”
One might consider the phrase “right fit” to be a huge understatement. Denver exploded for 52 points in just 31 games before a shoulder injury cut his regular season short. But he returned in time for what was a memorable playoff run and helped the Vees win their first Fred Page Cup Championship in 22 years.
“It was an absolute thrill,” said Manderson. “We had such a good group of guys and it was really cool to win it all.”
Denver was a significant offensive contributor in the playoffs, notching 19 points in 15 games.
