Vipers Host Kings In Fred Page Rematch:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers host Kings in Fred Page rematch

Published: January 28, 2010

When the Vernon Vipers tangle with the Powell River Kings tonight at Wesbild Centre, it will be more like a meet-and-greet and less like a rematch of last year’s B.C. Hockey League Fred Page Cup final.

Gone are veterans Darcy Oakes, Kyle Bodie and Clay Harvey, who formed the Kings’ top line last season, one of the most dangerous in the league. All-star netminder Carson Chubak bolted for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm in the off-season.

In fact, just six Powell River players remain on the squad that bowed to the Vipers in six games in the league final. With the recent homecoming of forward Sahir Gill, the Snakes (42-14-1-3) have 13 players from last year’s Royal Bank Cup squad.

Despite the turnover, the Kings have regrouped under head coach Kent Lewis to post a 29-14-1-6 record, good enough for second place in the Coastal Conference. Vernon, meanwhile, has struggled lately by their standards, going 7-3 in their last 10 games.

The Kings, who are in the third of a five-game road swing, fell 3-2 to the Penticton Vees Wednesday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

BCHL Player of the Week Beau Bennett (1+2) pocketed the winner midway through the second period. Denver Manderson, who leads the league with 110 points in 49 games, rounded out the scoring for Penticton (40-6-0-3) with a pair of first-period powerplay goals.

Matt Garbowsky handled the Kings’ scoring.

Penticton keeper Sean Bonar made 26 stops while Josh Watson recorded 32 saves for Powell River.

The Vees are now just a single point behind Vernon for the BCHL lead.