Merritt (20-33-0-2) @ Vernon (44-6-0-2)Last Game Played:
Friday February 5th Vernon defeated Merritt 7-3
Saturday February 6th Cowichan Valley defeated Merritt 8-7
Tonight is the seventh and final meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Merritt Centennials. The Vipers are on a one game winning streak, while the Cents are riding a two game losing streak.
Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers:
The Vipers currently sit #1 overall in the league as the BCHL’s best team & #2 overall in Canada with a record of 44-6-0-3 just two points up on the 2nd place Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored 264 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 103. Vernon is 21-4-0-1 at home & is 23-2-0-2 on the road. The Vipers are 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games. The Vipers have three players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (27-44-71), Connor Jones (32-35-67) & Braden Pimm (23-41-64). Blake Voth leads the league as the BCHL’s top goaltender. Voth has a record of 15-2 with 3 shutouts and a GAA of 1.67
The Vipers need a win tonight, just two points up on Penticton for first place, the Vees play the Trail Smoke Eaters tonight.
The Vipers play their next three straight games at home (Merritt, Penticton & Prince George)
The Vipers need to be ready to face a Merritt team that will be looking for revenge after Fridays 7-3 loss.
Will Blake Voth get his 5th straight start for the Vipers? Or will Graeme Gordon be back between the pipes?
Players To Watch:
Mike Collins (27-44-71)
Connor Jones (32-35-67)
Braden Pimm (23-41-64)
Jonathan Milhouse (19-31-50)
Dylan Walchuk (19-27-46)
Cory Kane (21-25-46)
Kellen Jones (9-35-44)
Rob Short (19-23-42)
Cole Ikkala (20-21-41)
Bryce Kakoske (12-26-38)
Dan Nycholat (5-32-37)
Kevin Kraus (4-19-23)
Curtis Gedig (11-8-19)
Graeme Gordon (29-7 Record-1 Shutout 2.03 GAA)
Blake Voth (15-2 Record-3 Shutouts-1.67 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Merritt Centennials:
The Centennials currently sit in 6th place with a record of 20-33-0-2 The Cents have scored 196 goals but have had troubles keeping the puck out of their net giving up 290 goals. The Cents are 14-14-0-0 on home ice and 6-19-0-2 on the road. Merritt is 4-6-0-0 in their last 10 games. For more info and stats on the Merritt Centennials and tonights game, visit Brian Wiebe’s Merritt Centennials Blog, http://merrittcentennials.blogspot.com/
The Cents are 7-35-0-2 in the last six seasons against Vernon
The Centennials are on a 20 game winless skid (0-19-0-1) against the Vipers.
The last time Merritt defeated Vernon was on January 14, 2007 by a final score of 3-2Wade MacLeod scored the winner while Casey Fratkin and Tyler Halliday also scored for the Centennials. Nick Stermer, Mike Naito, Nick Kang, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Jason Wright and Cody Butcher each had an assist in the win. Brad McInnis made 45 saves in goal for the Cents.
The Centennials need to find a way to knock off the Vipers, the team is running out of games and needs all the points they can get to make the playoffs.
Merritt needs better goaltending in order to keep pace with the Vipers, Vernon has outscored Merritt 42-11
Specialty teams and goaltending will be the difference.
Players To Watch:
Dustin Johnson (35-26-61)
Colton Sobchak (18-32-50)
Derek Hills (18-27-45)
Jeff Jones (24-21-45)
Jordan Soquila (15-26-41)
Alex Valenti (13-20-33)
Mitch Jones (5-22-27)
Steve Tresierra (5-18-23)
Heres a look at the season series between these two teams:
Wednesday, October 21st @ Vernon: Vernon wins 7-2
Merritt held a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd period but couldn’t hold on for the win, as Vernon exploded for six goals in the final 30 minutes. Connor Jones (2), Kellen Jones, Jonathan Milhouse, Rob Short, Steven Weinstein, & Bryce Kakoske scored for the Vipers. Derek Hills & Dustin Johnson scored for the Centennials. Graeme Gordon made 14 saves for the win. Cole Holowencko made 40 saves in the loss. Vernon outshot Merritt 47-16.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712631&link=bchl
Friday, October 30th @ Merritt: Vernon wins 10-4
Dylan Walchuk & Cole Ikkala with two goals each put Vernon up 4-0 after the 1st period. Cory kane & Dustin Johnson scored in the 2nd as the Vipers were up 5-1 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon would score five goals in the 3rd (Mike Collins with two, Rob Short, Darrin Robak & Nick Amies) to blow the game wide open. Rob Short, Jonathan Milhouse, Cole Ikkala, Cory Kane & Dylan Walchuk all had three point nights. Mike Collins lead the way with four points. Vernon outshot Merritt 39-31 Blake Voth made 27 saves getting the win, while Cameron Dagg made 29 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712655&link=bchl
Tuesday, November 10th @ Merritt: Vernon wins 6-1
Silvan Harper put the Centennials on the scoreboard at 16:48 of the 1st period. This was all the scoring the Cents would get as Vernon would score six straight goals going on to the 6-1 victory. Dan Nycholat, Patrick McGillis with two, Cory Kane, Adam Thompson, & Rob Short scored for the Vipers. Cole Holowenko made 37 saves in the loss, while Graeme Gordon made 28 saves picking up the win. Vernon outshot Merritt 43-29.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712694
Tuesday, December 8th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 7-1
Dustin Johnson scores 1:08 into the opening period, but this was all the goals the Cents would muster as Vernon would score the next seven straight. Connor Jones, Adam Thompson & Mike Collins on the powerplay gave the Vipers a 3-1 lead after the 1st period. With no scoring in the 2nd period, Cole Ikkala with two, Bryce Kakoske, & Cory Kane rounded out the Viper scoring giving them a huge 7-1 victory. Blake Voth made 22 saves getting the win, while Keith Hamilton gave up five goals on 20 shots before Cole Holowenko finished the game giving up two goals on just seven shots. Vernon outshot Merritt 27-23.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712787
Tuesday, January 5th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 5-0
SCORING SUMMARY
PERIOD 1
Vernon Vipers at 16:24 (PP) - Bryce Kakoske from Mike Collins and Steven Weinstein
PERIOD 2
Vernon Vipers at 1:12 (PP) - Braden Pimm from Adam Thompson and Dan Nycholat
Vernon Vipers at 9:57 - Jonathan Milhouse from David Robinson and Cory Kane
PERIOD 3
Vernon Vipers at 8:34 - Braden Pimm from Bryce Kakoske and Mike Collins
Vernon Vipers at 16:56 - Braden Pimm from Mike Collins and Bryce Kakoske
Vernon outshot Merritt 44-26. Blake Voth made 26 saves for the win, while Cole Holowenko made 39 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712857
Friday, February 5th @ Merritt: Vernon wins 7-3
SCORING SUMMARY
PERIOD 1
Vernon Vipers at 0:10 - Connor Jones from David Robinson and Dan Nycholat
Merritt Centennials at 3:02 - Derek Hills from Colton Sobchak and Mitch Jones
Vernon Vipers at 10:50 - Cole Ikkala from Mike Collins and Braden Pimm
Vernon Vipers at 11:30 - Cory Kane from Rob Short
Vernon Vipers at 18:48 - Rob Short from Sahir Gill and Cory Kane
PERIOD 2
Vernon Vipers at 1:28 - Mike Collins from Braden Pimm and Cole Ikkala
Vernon Vipers at 2:23 - Rob Short from Cory Kane and Sahir Gill
Merritt Centennials at 4:33 (PP) - Dustin Johnson from Alex Valenti and Colton Sobchak
Vernon Vipers at 11:09 - David Robinson from Kellen Jones
PERIOD 3
Merritt Centennials at 13:50 - Dustin Johnson from Alex Valenti and Matt Mazzarolo
Merritt outshot Vernon 40-28. Blake Voth made 37 saves for the win, while Keith Hamilton made 8 saves taking the loss after Cole Holowenko made 13 saves in relief.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712951&link=bchl
Here's a look at both team's rosters:
Vernon:
Mike Collins
Braden Pimm
Cory Kane
Dylan Walchuk
Jonathan Milhouse
Cole Ikkala
Kevin Kraus
Connor Jones
Dan Nycholat
Curtis Gedig
Adam Thompson
David Robinson
Steven Weinstein
Kellen Jones
Rob Short
Sahir Gill
Bryce Kakoske
Garrett Noonan
Patrick McGillis
Darrin Robak
Blake Voth
Graeme Gordon
Merritt:
Dustin Johnson
Colton Sobchak
Jeff Jones
Derek Hills
Jordan Soquila
Alex Valenti
Mitch Jones
Steve Tresierra
Alexander MacMillan
David Sabey
Jeff Zmurchyk
Stephen Wall
Matt Mazzarolo
Ryne Bodger
Silvan Harper
Daniel Chang
Kameran Crawford
Lucas Daoust
Sam Gemmell
Austin Baecker
Keith Hamilton
Cole Holowenko
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