Tuesday, January 19, 2010

(Game Preview) Vernon @ Alberni Valley:




Vernon (39-5-0-2) @ Alberni Valley (36-10-1-2)

Last Game Played:

Sunday January 17th Vernon defeated Cowichan Valley 5-1
Sunday January 17th Alberni Valley defeated Langley 8-2

Tonight is the second and final meeting of the regular season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. This is the Vipers fifth game of a current five game in seven day road trip. Tonight is the first game of a five game home stand for the Bulldogs. Vernon has won five out of their last six games, while Alberni Valley has won fourteen straight. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller starting at 6:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM

Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The Vipers currently sit #2 overall in Canada & in the league as the BCHL’s best team with a record of 39-5-0-2 five points up on the 2nd place Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored a league high 235 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 86. Vernon is 18-3-0-1 at home & is 21-2-0-1 on the road. The Vipers are 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 games. The Vipers have three players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (24-39-63), Connor Jones (29-32-61) & Braden Pimm (21-33-54). Blake Voth leads the league as the BCHL’s top goaltender. Voth has a record of 12-1 with 3 shutouts and a GAA of 1.51

Players To Watch:

Mike Collins (24-39-63)
Connor Jones (29-32-61)
Braden Pimm (21-33-54)
Jonathan Milhouse (19-30-49)
Dylan Walchuk (16-27-43)
Cory Kane (20-21-41)
Kellen Jones (8-31-39)
Rob Short (14-21-35)
Bryce Kakoske (11-23-34)
Dan Nycholat (4-29-33)
Cole Ikkala (16-17-33)
Kevin Kraus (4-19-23)
Curtis Gedig (10-8-18)
Graeme Gordon (27-6 Record-1 Shutout 1.97 GAA)
Blake Voth (12-1 Record-3 Shutouts-1.51 GAA)

Tonight is the Vipers toughest game of this five game road trip, as Alberni Valley has won 14 straight games.

Vernon will have to be ready to play tonight with a full 60 minutes if they expect to snapt the Bulldogs 14 game winning streak.

Specialty teams will be the difference in the final outcome of tonights game.

The Vipers need to use their speed and skill in order to be at their best.

Let’s take a look at the Alberni Valley Bulldogs:

The Bulldogs currently sit in 1st place in the Coastal Conference with a record of 36-10-1-2 just 5 pts back of the league leading Vernon Vipers. The Bulldogs have scored 192 goals & given up 119 goals. Alberni Valley is 16-5-0-2 on home ice & 20-5-1-0 on the road. Alberni is 10-0-0-0 in their last 10 games. Alberni Valley has four players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mitch MacMillan (50-29-79), Mark MacMillan (20-43-63), David Dziurzynski (18-41-59) & Tye Lewis (22-33-55). Frank Slubowski is 5th in league in the leagues top goaltenders with a record of 27-8-1 and a GAA of 2.28 Scott Lewan is also in the leagues top 10 for goaltenders ranked at #8 with a record of 9-4 and a GAA of 2.65 For more info and stats on the Bulldogs & great coverage on tonights game, check out out the Hammers Bulldogs Blog, http://www.hammersdogs.blogspot.com/

Players To Watch:

Mitch MacMillan (50-29-79)
Mark MacMillan (20-43-63)
David Dziurzynski (18-41-59)
Tye Lewis (22-33-55)
Kevin Ross (6-40-46)
Johnny Rogic (15-23-38)
Matt Hatch (13-24-37)
Frank Slubowski (27-8-1 Record-2 shutouts 2.28 GAA)

The Bulldogs will have to be at their best if they want to knock off the defending champs.

Alberni Valley has to play physical against a smaller Vernon team.

Trent Dorais & Frank Riddle face off against their former team. Dorais played the last two seasons with the Vipers, while Riddle was at the Vipers training camp this past summer.

Tonight should be a very entertaining hockey game with two of the leagues top teams facing off against one another.

Both teams will have to try and do their best at shutting down each others big guns.
Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Mitch MacMillan has been named the British Columbia Hockey League's Player of the WeekMacMillan hit a rare milestone last week, scoring his 50th goal of the season in just his 49th game during an 8-2 victory over the Langley Chiefs. The 20-year old posted a two-goal, two-assist effort in Sunday's win, which was the 14th consecutive victory for the Bulldogs.

Heres a look at the season series between these two teams:

Sunday, October 11th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 4-1

SCORING SUMMARY
PERIOD 1
Alberni Valley Bulldogs at 9:31 - Warren Muir from Trent Dorais and Ryan Corbiell
Vernon Vipers at 10:03 - Rob Short from Cole Ikkala and Dylan Walchuk
PERIOD 2
Vernon Vipers at 2:41 - Nick Amies (unassisted)
Vernon Vipers at 10:10 - Jonathan Milhouse from Braden Pimm and Mike Collins
Vernon Vipers at 17:52 - Dylan Walchuk from Mike Collins and Jonathan Milhouse
PERIOD 3
No Scoring

Vernon outshot Alberni Valley 39-20. Graeme Gordon made 19 saves for the win, while Frank Slubowski made 26 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712604


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
Adam Thompson
Sawyer Mick
Steven Weinstein
Kellen Jones
Rob Short
Curtis Gedig
Bryce Kakoske
David Robinson
Garrett Noonan
Patrick McGillis
Darrin Robak
Blake Voth
Graeme Gordon

Alberni Valley:

Mitch MacMillan
Mark MacMillan
David Dziurzynski
Tye Lewis
Kevin Ross
Johnny Rogic
Matt Hatch
Casey Bailey
Sam Mitchell
Warren Muir
Trent Dorais
Josh Mitchell
Frank Riddle
Tyler Berkholtz
Nick Cecere
Jeff Reppucci
Robert Lindores
Adam Hout
Pearce Eviston
Brody Lynott
Ryan Renz
Frank Slubowski
Scott Lewan

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