(Game Preview) BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals: Game 6: Vernon @ Powell River:

Game Preview: Vernon (11-6) @ Powell River (14-7)

Last game played:

Game 5: Wednesday April 8th Vernon defeated Powell River 4-2

The defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Powell River Kings meet in Game 6 tonight after the Vipers defeated the Kings 4-2 in Game 5. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 7:15pm

Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers: (11-6)

The Vipers clinched top spot in the BCHL and the Interior Division with a record of 51-6-0-3 and was ranked #2 in all of Canada. Vernon scored a league high 298 goals and broke the Penticton Vees BCHL record for least amount of goals, giving up just 119. Vernon was 25-4-0-1 at home & 26-2-0-2 on the road during the regular season. The Vipers are 9-0-0-1 in their last 10 games. The Vipers had three players in the leagues top 20 in regular season scoring. Connor Jones (36-45-81), Mike Collins (30-46-76) & Braden Pimm (25-43-68). Blake Voth lead the league as the BCHL’s top goaltender. Voth has a record of 21-2 with 3 shutouts and broke the BCHL record with the lowest GAA with 1.79 Graeme Gordon was 3rd in the leagues top 10 goaltenders with a record of 30-7 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 2.06

For just the second time in franchise history, the Vipers have clinched more than 50 wins in a regular season. The Vipers hit the 51-win mark this season one shy of the team and league record. The Vipers won 52 games in the 1998-99 campaign, which they followed up with a national Junior A title. The 51-6-0-3 Vipers also set a new BCHL record for the fewest goals allowed (119). The previous record of 137 was set by the Penticton Vees in 2005-06. Goaltender Blake Voth etched his name into the BCHL annals, setting a record 1.79 goals against average. The rookie tender bettered Nanaimo Clipper net detective Simon Nolet’s 1.98 GAA in 2004-05. Vernon at one time during the regular season went on a 21 game winning streak, one shy of the teams record before falling in overtime to Westside. This years version of the Vernon Vipers has to be one of if not the best Vernon Junior Hockey team Viper fans have ever seen.

1st Round: First Round Bye
2nd Round: Defeated Quesnel in six games
Interior Conference Finals: Defeated Penticton in six games

Home Playoff Record: 6-3
Road Playoff Record: 5-3

Vernon’s powerplay vs. Powell River: 2-18

The Vipers come into Game 6 tonight just like last year, with a chance at winning the Fred Page Cup. The Vipers defeated the Kings in six games last season to move on to the Doyle Cup, can they repeat this year? Vernon will be looking for a chance at winning their record 11th BCHL Championship and the first back to back BCHL Championship since the 1991 & 1992 Vernon Lakers won back to BCHL Championships. With a win tonight, the Vipers will have won all three playoff series in six Games winning the deciding Game 6 in all three series on the road. Travel must be coming into effect now for both teams, as the series goes on. The Vipers now have the Kings on the ropes but have to remember the Kings come back from down 3-1 to Alberni Valley in the Coastal Conference Finals. Vernon does have momentum and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. The Vipers who scored just three goals vs. Powell River in the first three games has now scored eight goals vs. the Kings in the last two games. Vernon needs to try and score early and take the loud crowd out of the game. The Vipers need to try and stay out of the penalty box, as the Kings have done fairly well on the powerplay in this series. Its Vernon on the other hand that has struggled on the man advantage and needs to get the powerplay clicking. The Vipers will need a solid 60 minute effort tonight in order to end the Kings season. The Vipers need some of the other three lines to start finding the score sheet as Vernon cant keep relying on the Gill-Jones line. The Vipers have to play physical, in your face hockey, get the puck in deep and forecheck. Vernon needs to get bodies and pucks towards the net. The Vipers are a much better team when using the body and playing with that aggressive forecheck down low. They say the fourth game of a series is always the toughest to win, especially with the stakes so high like tonight. You can bet Powell River dosnt want to lose the BCHL Championship on home ice. Will both teams have any gas left in the tank to battle tonight? The 13 veterans from last year’s Vipers team will add that experience and leadership and has what it takes to win.


Key Players To Watch:

Connor Jones (9-8-17)
Kellen Jones (5-11-16)
Sahir Gill (5-9-14)
Rob Short (6-6-12)
Jonathan Milhouse (4-6-10)
Dan Nycholat (3-7-10)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Braden Pimm (3-5-8)
Adam Thompson (2-5-7)
Graeme Gordon (10-5 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.78 GAA)

Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:

Connor Jones (9-8-17)
Kellen Jones (5-11-16)
Sahir Gill (5-9-14)
Rob Short (6-6-12)
Jonathan Milhouse (4-6-10)
Dan Nycholat (3-7-10)
Cory Kane (2-8-10)
David Robinson (3-7-10)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Mike Collins (2-6-8)
Braden Pimm (3-5-8)
Adam Thompson (2-5-7)
Kevin Kraus (1-5-6)
Garrett Noonan (2-3-5)
Steven Weinstein (0-5-5)
Bryce Kakoske (2-3-5)
Curtis Gedig (1-4-5)
Dylan Walchuk (1-2-3)
Patrick McGillis (0-0-0)
Darrin Robak (0-0-0)

Blake Voth (1-1 Record, 3.56 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (10-5 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.78 GAA)

Lets take a look at the Powell River Kings: (14-7)

The Kings finished the regular season in 2nd place in the Coastal Conference with a record of 36-17-1-6 The Kings scored 216 goals and gave up 160 goals. Powell River was 23-4-0-3 on home ice & 13-13-1-3 on the road during the regular season. The Vees are 3-0 at home & 1-2 on the road during these Playoffs. Penticton finished the regular season at 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 games. Josh Watson finished in the leagues top 10 goaltenders. Watson finished with a 21-12-1 record with two shutouts and a GAA of 2.27

1st Round: Defeated Cowichan Valley in five games
2nd Round: Defeated Langley in four games
Coastal Conference Finals: Defeated Alberni Valley in seven games

Home Playoff Record: 7-3
Road Playoff Record: 7-4

Powell River’s powerplay vs. Vernon: 6-20

Powell River comes into Game 6 tonight with a must win or the Kings series is all but over. Powell River has been in this situation before as the Kings were down 3-1 in the series to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and come back to win the series in seven games. Powell River is 7-3 on home ice in these playoffs and will need the home crowd behind them. The Kings will once again need strong goaltending from Josh Watson and somehow find a way at shutting down the Gill-Jones line. Powell River needs to play physical against Vernon, be aggressive on the forecheck, try to force them into making turnovers. The Kings defence wich looked very solid giving up just three goals in the first three games of this series, has given the Vipers forwards a ton of room and now Vernon has scored eight goals in the last two games. The Kings who have had trouble with the Vipers speed and skill the last two games need to find a way to contain the Vipers. The Kings need to take advantage on the powerplay and get more shots and traffic towards Graeme Gordon. You can bet the Vipers will expect a solid 60 minute effort from the Kings as their season is on the line.

Key Players To Watch:

Mat Bodie (8-20-28)
Matt Garbowsky (12-14-26)
Daniel Carr (14-11-25)
Jordan Grant (6-9-15)
Mitch Labreche (5-10-15)
Chad Niddery (10-8-18)
Cody Rainaldi (5-5-10)
Justin Dasilva (1-11-12)
Darcy Huisman (0-8-8)
Reid Campbell (1-7-8)
Teagan Waugh (3-4-7)
Ben Schmidt (3-3-6)
Josh Watson (14-7 Record, 4 Shutouts- 1.91 GAA)

Powell River Kings Playoff Scoring:

Mat Bodie (8-20-28)
Matt Garbowsky (12-14-26)
Daniel Carr (14-11-25)
Chad Niddery (10-8-18)
Jordan Grant (6-9-15)
Mitch Labreche (5-10-15)
Justin Dasilva (1-11-12)
Cody Rainaldi (5-5-10)
Darcy Huisman (0-8-8)
Reid Campbell (1-8-9)
Teagan Waugh (3-4-7)
Ben Schmidt (3-3-6)
Brenden Forbes (2-3-5)
Andrew Pettitt (1-4-5)
Jason Yee (0-3-3)
Robbie Bailey (0-1-1)
Brandon Formosa (0-1-1)
Klay Kachur (0-1-1)
Braden Pears
Alex McDougall
Carter Shinkaruk

Josh Watson (14-7 Record, 4 Shutouts- 1.91 GAA)
Michael Garteig (0-0 Record)

Heres a look at the series:

Game 1: Friday, April 2nd @ Vernon: Vernon wins 2-1

Kellen Jones at 12:49 on the powerplay opened the scoring for Vernon as the Vipers took a 1-0 lead heading into the 2nd period. No scoring in the 2nd before Connor Jones gave the Vipers a 2-0 lead at 14:19 of the 3rd. Teagan Waugh at 16:01 got the Kings on the board, but it wasn’t enough as the Vipers hung on to take Game 1 2-1. Powell River outshot Vernon 30-29. Graeme Gordon made 29 saves for the win, while Josh Watson made 27 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812878&link=bchl

Game 2: Saturday, April 3rd @ Vernon: Powell River wins 3-1

Connor Jones opened the scoring on the powerplay at 6:36 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Matt Garbowsky on the powerplay at 18:14 ties the game heading into the 3rd. Cody Rainaldi at 3:05 gives the Kings their first lead of the series, before Mitch Labreche seals the victory with an empty netter at 19:34 giving Powell River the 3-1 win wich ties the series 1-1. The Vipers outshot the Kings 31-26. Josh Watson made 30 saves for the win, while Graeme Gordon made 23 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812879&link=bchl

Game 3: Monday, April 5th @ Powell River: Powell River wins 4-0

Chad Niddery at 15:12 on the powerplay gave the Kings their first lead of the game and first time this series they have scored the games first goal. It was 1-0 Powell River after the opening period. Cody Rainaldi put the Kings up 2-0 at 5:17. In the 3rd Andrew Pettitt on the powerplay at 48 seconds gave Powell River a 3-0 lead and then Mat Bodie on the man advantage at 6:58 gives the Kings a 4-0 lead. Powell River would defeat Vernon 4-0. The Kings outshot the Vipers 30-28. Josh Watson makes 28 saves for his 4th shutout of the playoffs, while Graeme Gordon made 26 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812880&link=bchl

Game 4: Tuesday, April 6th @ Powell River: Vernon wins 4-2

Cory Kane opned the scoring at 5:33 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Daniel Carr on the powerplay at 3:35 tied the game 1-1 before Connor Jones at 3:56 re stores Vernon’s lead. Sahir Gill at 19:29 gives the Vipers a 3-1 lead heading into the 3rd. Chad Niddery on the powerplay at 14:23 gets the Kings back to within a goal but Kevin Kraus with an empty netter at 19:50 seal’s the Vipers 4-2 victory. Vernon outshot Powell River 27-22. Graeme Gordon made 20 saves in the win, while Josh Watson made 24 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812881&link=bchl

Game 5: Wednesday, April 8th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 4-2

David Robinson puts Vernon up 1-0 at 2:01 as the Vipers take a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period. Mat Bodie at 9:00 ties the game 1-1 before Kellen Jones at 16:31 gives the Vipers a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd. Rob Short at 5:58 gives Vernon a 3-1 lead before Chad Niddery at 19:02 cuts the lead to one. Jonathan Milhouse would seal the win by adding an empty netter at 19:42 giving the Vipers the 4-2 victory. Vernon leads the series 3-2. Vernon outshot Powell River 41-22. Graeme Gordon made 18 saves for the win, while Josh Watson made 38 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812882&link=bchl

Here's a look at the Vipers-Kings Fred Page Cup Schedule:

#1 Vernon Vipers vs #5 Powell River Kings

2010 Fred Page Cup Finals Schedule:

Game #1 - Powell River at Vernon, Friday, April 2nd, 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game #2 - Powell River at Vernon, Saturday, April 3rd, 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game #3 - Vernon at Powell River, Monday, April 5th, 7:00 PM, Powell River Recreation Centre (Hap Parker Arena)
Game #4 - Vernon at Powell River, Tuesday, April 6th, 7:00 PM, Powell River Recreation Centre (Hap Parker Arena)
Game #5 - Powell River at Vernon, Thursday, April 8th, 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game #6 - Vernon at Powell River, Saturday, April 10th, 7:30 PM, Powell River Recreation Centre (Hap Parker Arena)
Game #7 - Powell River at Vernon, Monday, April 12th, 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre