Prince George (11-16-1-1) @ Vernon (27-1-0-0)Last Game Played:
Sunday November 22nd Vernon defeated Burnaby 8-1
Saturday November 21st Prince George defeated Quesnel 11-4
Tonight is the third meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Prince George Spruce Kings. Prince George makes its first visit to the Wesbild Centre this year. The Vipers are riding a 20 game winning streak heading into tonights game. The Spruce Kings are playing their first game of a current three game road trip after coming off a huge 11-4 win over Quesnel over the weekend.
Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers:
The Vipers currently sit #1 overall in Canada & in the league as the BCHL’s best team with a record of 27-1-0-0 eight points up on the Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored 159 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 45. The Vipers have won 20 straight games heading into tonights contest with PG returning from a perfect 3-0 road trip over the weekend with wins over Surrey, Langley & Burnaby. Going back to last years Playoffs the Vipers are 38-1 in their last 39 games. The Vipers are 11-1 on home ice and have the leagues best attendance with an average of 1928 fans per game. The Vipers have five players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (20-25-45), Braden Pimm (14-23-37), Dylan Walchuk (13-23-36), Connor Jones (19-15-34) & Kellen Jones (6-28-34). Graeme Gordon & Blake Voth also lead the league as the BCHL’s top two goaltenders. Gordon with a record of 20-1 with 1 shutout and a GAA of 1.61 Voth has a record of 7-0 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 1.43 Vernon is finally back home after playing its last 10 of 12 games on the road. The Vipers now home faceoff against Prince George & Westside this week. Vernon is 2-0 against the Spruce Kings this season winning 5-1 and 5-2 in PG. The Vipers cant take the Spruce Kings lightly and will need a full team effort tonight, PG is 7-4-0-1 on the road & has won four out of its last five games away from home. Both teams will be looking for a good start, Vernon needs to jump on the Spruce Kings a team that may have some bus legs after a long trip up to the Okanagan. If the Vipers can jump on Prince George early and get up by a few goals, it will be hard for the Spruce Kings to have to try and battle back down a few goals against the leagues top defensive teams. Kellen Jones has atleast one assist in five straight games, while Dan Nycholat has atleast one assist in four straight games. Mike Collins has points in nine straight games, Dan Nycholat has points in seven straight games, while Connor & Kellen Jones have points in five straight games. Vipers Captain Kevin Kraus & Sawyer Mick both missed last Sundays game vs. Burnaby due to minor injuries, both players are suppose to make their return to the Vipers lineup tonight.
Players To Watch:
Mike Collins (20-25-45)
Braden Pimm (14-23-37)
Dylan Walchuk (13-23-36)
Connor Jones (19-15-34)
Kellen Jones (6-28-34)
Jonathan Milhouse (9-21-30)
Cory Kane (12-17-29)
Rob Short (11-15-26)
Dan Nycholat (4-18-22)
Cole Ikkala (10-12-22)
Bryce Kakoske (6-13-19)
Kevin Kraus (2-16-18)
Adam Thompson (2-10-12)
Graeme Gordon (20-1 Record-1 Shutout-1.61 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Prince George Spruce Kings:
The Spruce Kings currently sit in 5th place with a record of 11-16-1-1 one point up on the 6th place Quesnel Millionaires. The Spruce Kings have scored 105 goals but have had troubles keeping the puck out of the net, giving up 120 goals. Prince George is 4-12-1-0 on home ice but is an amazing 7-4-0-1 on the road and are 4-6-0-0 in their last 10 games. Can Prince George be just the second team other then Penticton to knock off the Vipers? Well its going to take a full 60 minutes to try and snap the Vipers 20 game winning streak. Vernon is the first BCHL team to win 20 straight games since the Alberni Valley Bulldogs won 20 straight games back in the 2005-06 season. The Spruce Kings need to try and stop or atleast slow down the leagues highest scoring team. Vernons speed, skill and depth is keys in their winning ways, PG needs to play physical against a smaller Vipers hockey club. Superpest Zac Rasmussen knows all about the Vipers after playing with Salmon Arm before being traded to PG earlier this season. Rasmussen needs to try and get the Vipers off their game, get under their skin. The Spruce Kings will need lots of pucks and traffic at either Graeme Gordon or Blake Voth, in order to try and beat the leagues two top goaltenders. Prince George has two players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Brooks Robinson (10-31-41) & Sam Muchalla (13-23-36). Lyndon Martell has goals in three straight games, while Josh Pineiro has atleast one assist in his last six games. Joe Morgan & Brad Bourke also have atleast one assist in their last four games. RJay Berra currently is the Spruce Kinsg ironman playing in 29 consecutive games. For more info, stats and news on the Spruce Kings check out the Spruce Kings Crusader blog, http://sprucekingscrusader.blogspot.com/
Players To Watch:
Brooks Robinson (10-31-41)
Sam Muchalla (13-23-36)
Zac Rasmussen (11-15-26)
Wes McLeod (7-18-25)
Josh Pineiro (6-17-23)
Joe Morgan (6-15-21)
RJay Berra (8-10-18)
Justin Fillion (3-15-18)
Nick DeSousa (11-6-17)
Brad Bourke (5-11-16)
Jeff Earnest (8-7-15)
Steve Papciak (4-1-1 Record 3.37 GAA)
Heres a look at the season series between these two teams:
Sunday, October 18th @ Prince George: Vernon won 5-1
The Vipers went up 3-0 on goals from, Connor Jones, Dylan Walchuk, & Bryce Kakoske before Sam Muchalla got PG on the board. Cory Kane & Braden Pimm finished off Vernons scoring giving them the 5-1 victory. The Vipers had period leads of 2-0 and 4-1. Connor Jones, Cory Kane, & Kellen Jones each had two point nights. Graeme Gordon made just 18 saves for the win. Alex Wright made 36 saves taking the loss. Vernon outshot Prince George 41-19.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712626&link=bchl
Friday, November 6th @ Prince George: Vernon wins 5-2
RJay Berra opened the scoring at 5:49 of the 1st period before Dylan Walchuk with two, Mike Collins and Drew George scored four straight goals for Vernon putting the Vipers up 4-1 in the 3rd. Jonathan Gibson would score PGs second goal of the game midway through the 3rd cutting the lead to 4-2 before Dylan Walchuk would score his 3rd goal of the night into an empty net giving Vernon the 5-2 victory. Graeme Gordon made 24 saves for the win, while Kyle Nielsen made 26 saves taking the loss. Vernon outshot Prince George 30-26
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712679
Here's a look at both team's rosters:
Vernon:
Nils-Erik Soderlund
Mike Collins
Braden Pimm
Cory Kane
Dylan Walchuk
Jonathan Milhouse
Cole Ikkala
Kevin Kraus
Connor Jones
Dan Nycholat
Drew George
Adam Thompson
Sawyer Mick
Steven Weinstein
Kellen Jones
Rob Short
Nick Amies
Bryce Kakoske
Garrett Noonan
Patrick McGillis
Darrin Robak
Blake Voth
Graeme Gordon
Prince George:
Brooks Robinson
Sam Muchalla
Zac Rasmussen
Wes McLeod
Josh Pineiro
Joe Morgan
RJay Berra
Justin Fillion
Nick DeSousa
Brad Bourke
Jeff Earnest
Lyndon Martell
Jonathan Gibson
Kyle Manlow
Luke Hannas
Tyler Miller
Jeremy Wiebe
Stewart Lambert
Jesse Scrimbit
Clayton McEwan
Jeff Datoff
Steve Papciak
Kyle Nielsen
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