(Game Preview) Vernon @ Merritt:

Vernon (43-6-0-2) @ Merritt (20-31-0-2)

Last Game Played:

Thursday February 4th Powell River defeated Vernon 3-2 in Overtime
Tuesday February 2nd Nanaimo defeated Merritt 4-2

Tonight is the sixth meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Merritt Centennials. Tonight is the first game of a home and home series between these two teams, as Merritt plays in Vernon Tuesday night for the final meeting of the season. The Vipers are on a one game losing streak, while the Cents are riding a single game losing streak. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller starting at 7:15pm on 107.5 Kiss FM

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 43-6-0-3 just two points up on the 2nd place Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored 257 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 100. Vernon is 21-4-0-1 at home & is 22-2-0-2 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 (26-43-69), Connor Jones (31-35-66) & Braden Pimm (23-39-62). Blake Voth leads the league as the BCHL’s top goaltender. Voth has a record of 14-2 with 3 shutouts and a GAA of 1.59

This is the Vipers second game of a mini two game road trip. Vernon lost last night 3-2 in Overtime to Powell River.

Lets see how the Vipers come to play tonight after playing last night in Powell River.

Vernon needs to get off to a good start, as Merritt will be fresh and ready to play after having the night off last night.

Will have the Vipers have enough gas in the tank after a long trip to Merritt?

Players To Watch:

Mike Collins (26-43-69)
Connor Jones (31-35-66)
Braden Pimm (23-39-62)
Jonathan Milhouse (19-31-50)
Dylan Walchuk (19-27-46)
Kellen Jones (9-35-44)
Cory Kane (20-23-43)
Cole Ikkala (19-20-39)
Rob Short (17-22-39)
Bryce Kakoske (12-26-38)
Dan Nycholat (5-31-36)
Kevin Kraus (4-19-23)
Curtis Gedig (11-8-19)
Graeme Gordon (29-7 Record-1 Shutout 2.03 GAA)
Blake Voth (14-2 Record-3 Shutouts-1.59 GAA)

Let’s take a look at the Merritt Centennials:

The Centennials currently sit in 5th place with a record of 20-31-0-2 The Cents have scored 186 goals but have had troubles keeping the puck out of their net giving up 275 goals. The Cents are 14-12-0-0 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 7-34-0-2 in the last six seasons against Vernon

The Centennials are on a 19 game winless skid (0-18-0-1) 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.

Merritt will have to get lots of pucks towards either Graeme Gordon or Blake Voth, and try and get traffic in front of two of the leagues top two goaltenders.

Merritt who usally likes to be phsycial needs to play physical against the Vipers and try and slow down the speedy Vernon forwards.

Former Merritt Centennial & Vernon Vipers forward, Luke Peirce has Merritt playing its best hockey of the season and fighting for a playoff spot. The Cents will give Vernon all they have.

Players To Watch:

Dustin Johnson (31-25-56)
Colton Sobchak (18-29-47)
Derek Hills (17-26-43)
Jordan Soquila (15-25-40)
Jeff Jones (23-20-40)
Mitch Jones (5-21-26)
Steve Tresierra (4-18-22)


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

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