(Game Preview) Vernon @ Langley:

Vernon (25-1-0-0) @ Langley (14-11-1-2)

Last Game Played:

Friday November 20th Vernon defeated Surrey 5-1
Friday November 20th Burnaby defeated Langley 5-4

Tonight is the first meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Langley Chiefs. The Vipers are riding a 18 game winning streak heading into tonights second game of a current three game road trip. The Chiefs are coming off a 5-4 loss to Burnaby Friday night and have won win out of their last five games. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 6:45pm

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 25-1-0-0 six points up on the Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored 145 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 42. The Vipers have won 18 straight games heading into tonights contest with Langley and undefeated on the road with a record of 14-0-0-0 as the only team yet to lose on the road. The Vipers have four players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (16-25-41), Dylan Walchuk (13-22-35), Braden Pimm (13-21-34), & Connor Jones (16-14-30). Graeme Gordon & Blake Voth also lead the league as the BCHL’s top two goaltenders. Gordon with a record of 19-1- 1 shutout and a GAA of 1.64 Voth has a record of 6-0 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 1.33 Vernon makes its first ever visit to the brand new Langley Events Centre. After winning their 18th straight game last night in Surrey the Vipers will be looking for #19 tonight. Jonathan Milhouse returned to the Vipers den joining the team in Vancouver during this road trip but didn’t play last night. Milhouse went back home to California for personal reasons. Vernon needs to jump on a Chiefs team that has been struggling as of late and playing around the 500 mark. The Vipers will have to be a little more disaplined tonight after taking a rare six minors last night. Again the Vipers need to get off to a good start, try and take the crowd out of tonights game and stick to their game plan. The Vipers will have to watch this weeks player of the week, Colton Beck. Beck has (17-18-35) and looks like he can be dangerous.

Players To Watch:

Mike Collins (16-25-41)
Dylan Walchuk (13-22-35)
Braden Pimm (13-21-34)
Connor Jones (16-14-30)
Jonathan Milhouse (9-19-28)
Kellen Jones (5-23-28)
Cory Kane (11-14-25)
Rob Short (11-14-25)
Dan Nycholat (4-16-20)
Cole Ikkala (8-11-19)
Kevin Kraus (2-14-16)
Adam Thompson (2-9-11)
Graeme Gordon (19-1 Record-1 Shutout-1.64 GAA)

Let’s take a look at the Langley Chiefs:

The Chiefs currently sit tied for 3rd place with the Nanaimo Clippers with a record of 14-11-1-2 A tight Coastal Conference as Alberni Valley & Powell River are also currently tied for 2nd place. The Chiefs have scored 98 goals but have had troubles keeping the puck out of the net, giving up 94 goals. Langley is 7-6-1-0 on home ice and 3-5-1-1 in their last 10 games. The Chiefs have one player Colton Beck (17-18-35) in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Langley is just 5-4 against the Interior Division so far this season and will have their hands full with the Vernon Vipers. The Chiefs will have to watch not only Vernons top two lines but the Vipers have four solid lines that can put up some offensive numbers. Its been the Vipers 3rd and 4th lines that have been playing their best hockey of the season as of late. Specialty teams will be key tonight as Vernon has the leagues best powerplay and penalty kill. The Vipers have scored a league 11 shorthanded goals, including one last night in a 5-1 win over Surrey. Vernon is very dangerous on the penalty kill. The Chiefs need to get lots of pucks in deep, and towards the Vipers goaltender. Both Graeme Gordon and Blake Voth have been strong between the nets for Vernon, so getting lots of traffic in front will be key. The Vipers who have the leagues highest scoring offence have lots of speed, skill and depth up front, so Langley will have to try and play a boring hockey game and slow down the #1 Vipers. Harvey Smyl always has a hard working club and loves playing against the Vipers. You know Smyls club will be ready for tonights game.

Players To Watch:

Colton Beck (17-18-35)
Mac Roy (11-13-24)
Brandon Thompson (7-16-23)
Marcus Watson (10-12-22)
Trevor Gerling (5-15-20)
Dennis Robertson (5-12-17)

Heres a look at last years season series between these two teams:

Friday, September 26th @ Langley: 3-3 Tie

The Vipers blew a 2-0 1st period lead and ended up getting one point with a 3-3 tie with the Langley Chiefs. Goals from Connor Jones & Cory Kane in the 1st put Vernon up 2-0. Langley battled back with two goals in the 2nd period from Milos Gordic but Mike Collins put Vernon up 3-2 heading into the 3rd. Milos Gordic with the hat trick midway through the period forced Overtime as neither team could score in the extra frame foring a 3-3 tie. Vernon outshot Langley 28-26. The Vipers went 0-5 on the powerplay, while the Chiefs went 1-9.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=573407

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

Langley:

Colton Beck
Mac Roy
Brandon Thompson
Marcus Watson
Trevor Gerling
Dennis Robertson
Brad Goss
Josh Myers
Tim Daly
Jordan Sims
Colten Hayes
Travis Irving
Ryan Bakken
Joe Walter
Kevin Tuohy
Matt Cronin
Max Fiedler
Mitch Pacey
Brad Bakken
Brad McBride
Kody Dhaliwal
Andrew Walsh
Wyatt Waselenchuk