Game Preview: Vernon (0-0) @ Dauphin (0-0)The Fred Page Cup & Doyle Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Anavet Cup Champion Duphin Kings meet in the Royal Bank Cup for the first time in history. The Vipers are coming off a 1st round bye, & defeated the Quesnel Millionaires in the 2nd round in six games before winning the Interior Conference Championship defeating the Penticton Vees in six games. Vernon then defeated Powell River for the second straight season winning their record 11th BCHL Championship in seven games over the Kings & then had to take the Spruce Grove Saints to seven games to win back to back Doyle Cups to advance to the RBC Cup. Vernon now will be looking for their record 6th National Championship. The Kings swept the Neepawa Natives in four games. Dauphin then defeated the Swan Valley Stampeders in five games before winning the Anavet Cup in four games over the Winnipeg Saints. Dauphin is looking for their first ever National Championship. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 4:45pm
Lets take a look at both teams,
Vernon Vipers: (0-0)
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.
VERNON VIPERS
GOAL: 1989 born veteran Graeme Gordon and Saskatchewan rookie 1991 born Blake Voth were both stingy all year. Gordon went 30-and-7, 2.06, .912. Voth was 21-and-2, 1.79, .929. Gordon was the main netminder in the playoffs and he appears to have full confidence of the coaching staff after posting numbers that were not on par with regular season and playoffs in the Doyle Cup (4-3, 2.95, .882).
DEFENSE: 1989 born Dan Nycholat led the blueline with 45-points in 58-games during the regular season and also led the defense in points in the playoffs. Kevin Kraus is the other 1989 born veteran of the group, although there is only one rookie playing regularly (Garrett Noonan).
FORWARDS: Twin brothers Connor and Kellen Jones should garner lots of attention and there’s good reason why. Connor led the team in goals and points in the playoffs with Kellen right behind in the scoring parade. Connor also had a team leading 36-goals and 81-points in the regular season. 1989 born Braden Pimm had 25-goals and 43-assists in 59-games during the regular season and after an uneventful playoff, he came back to be a major offensive cog in the wheel in the Doyle Cup against Spruce Grove. The Vipers will look for more from Mike Collins, who dented the twine 30 times in the regular season, but scored just twice in 19-playoff games. 1992 born Sahir Gill continues to improve and figures to be on the scoresheet often.
2010 Vernon Vipers Playoff Schedule & Results:
1st Round: First Round Bye
2nd Round: Defeated Quesnel in six games
Interior Conference Finals: Defeated Penticton in six games
Fred Page Cup (BCHL Finals): Defeated Powell River in seven games
Doyle Cup (BC-Alberta): Defeated Spruce Grove in seven games
Home Playoff Record: 9-5
Road Playoff Record: 7-5
The Vipers are looking at repeating as National Champions since the 1990-1991 Vernon Lakers last repeated as Champs. Vernon is heading back to the Royal Bank Cup for the second year in a row. No team has won back to back National Championships since the 1990-1991 Vernon Lakers. Last year the Humboldt Broncos went back to the RBC for a chance to win back to back titles but lost in the final to Vernon 2-0.
-The Vipers start off the RBC Cup on the road in Dauphin a town and rink they arnt use too.
-Im sure both these two teams don’t really know much about one another other then team stats.
-The Vipers are playing in a much smaller rink that will be packed to the rafters, making a lot of noise.
-The Vipers need to try and take the crowd out of the game early, get off to a good start and try and wear the Kings down with a strong forecheck-cycle down low.
-Vernon needs to just keep it simple and play their game.
-Graeme Gordon will have to come up with the big saves when needed and the Vipers will need to count on some secondary scoring from other lines other then the Gill-Jones line.
-Specialty teams will also be a key in this RBC Cup.
-It will be interesting to see how these two teams match up against one another.
Vernon Vipers Regular Season Scoring:
Connor Jones (36-45-81)
Mike Collins (30-46-76)
Braden Pimm (25-43-68)
Cory Kane (22-33-55)
Jonathan Milhouse (19-34-53)
Kellen Jones (12-41-53)
Rob Short (22-28-50)
Dylan Walchuk (19-28-47)
Cole Ikkala (22-23-45)
Dan Nycholat (7-38-45)
Bryce Kakoske (13-28-41)
Kevin Kraus (5-22-27)
David Robinson (15-10-25)
Adam Thompson (5-20-25)
Steven Weinstein (4-18-22)
Curtis Gedig (11-10-21)
Patrick McGillis (7-14-21)
Garrett Noonan (2-16-18)
Sahir Gill (3-9-12)
Darrin Robak (2-5-7)
Blake Voth (21-2 Record, 3 Shutouts- 1.79 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (30-7 Record, 1 Shutout- 2.06 GAA)
Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:
Connor Jones (9-11-20)
Kellen Jones (5-14-19)
Sahir Gill (6-9-15)
Jonathan Milhouse (6-7-13)
Rob Short (6-6-12)
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 (3-3-6)
Bryce Kakoske (3-3-6)
Curtis Gedig (1-5-6)
Steven Weinstein (0-5-5)
Dylan Walchuk (1-4-5)
Patrick McGillis (0-0-0)
Darrin Robak (0-0-0)
Blake Voth (1-1 Record, 3.08 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (11-6 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.90 GAA)
Dauphin Kings: (0-0)
The Kings finished the regular season in 1st place in the Sher-Wood Division & were ranked #1 overall in the league with a record of 50-11-1-0 The Kings scored a league high 296 goals and gave up a league best 169 goals. Dauphin had six players in the regular season’s top 20 in scoring. Shane Luke (29-72-101), Ryan Dreger (53-46-99), Bryce Lamb (38-51-89), Zeanan Ziemer (25-51-76), Steven Shamanski (19-52-71), & Mitch Czibere (22-29-51) Joe Caligiuri & Brett Willows were # 2 & 6 in the regular season’s top 10 goaltenders. Joe Caligiuri went 29-6-1 with 1 shutout and a GAA of 2.59 Brett Willows went 21-5 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 2.80
The Kings were unchallenged in the MJHL this season, losing just once in the postseason on their way to their first league title since 1993. Dauphin is a remarkable 38-2-1 on home ice this season.
DAUPHIN KINGS
GOAL: The Kings, primarily, employ 1989 born veteran Joe Caligiuri, a former Western Hockey League starter. However, 1990 born Brett Willows relieved Caligiuri in the MJHL championshp game and played extremely well. The Kings aren’t built around their goalies; they simply ask them to manage each game as it’s infrequent that they’ll be outshot by the opposition.
DEFENSE: The MJHL’s best defenseman is now a forward. 1989 born Steven Shamanski is a treat to watch. He had 71-points in the regular season; but was converted up front in the playoffs, where he led the team with 22-points in 13-games. 1990 born Joel Kot was fantastic against La Ronge in the ANAVET Cup (4-2-7-9). 1989 born Patrick Kozyra had 32-points in the regular season and he plays more minutes in the wake of Shamanski’s conversion to forward.
FORWARDS: Firepower. That’s what the Kings have. They can win a game with a big goal from any one of their four lines and that’s where they maybe have a big advantage over other teams. 1990 born Shane Luke had over 100 points in the regular season and 1989 born Ryan Dreger scored over 50 goals. WHL veteran Bryce Lamb played out his overage season with the Kings and finished with 89-points. Zeanan Ziemer (Buternowski) was acquired from OCN midseason and was their leading scorer at the time. 1989 born Mitch Czibere was the MVP of the ANAVET Cup. 1989 born Cody Esposito gives size along with the scoring ability, and we haven’t even mentioned 1990 born Devin Mitzner, who was challenging for an SJHL scoring title when he was dealt to the Kings over Christmas. 1990 born Troy Hunter sets the tone with his work ethic.
For more info and stat’s visit the Kings website,
http://www.dauphinkings.com/
2010 Dauphin Kings Playoff Schedule & Results:
1st Round: Defeated Neepawa in four games
2nd Round: Defeated Swan Valley in five games
Anavet Cup: Defeated Winnipeg in four games
Home Playoff Record: 7-0
Road Playoff Record: 5-1
-The Kings also come into the RBC, Im sure not knowing a whole lot about the Vernon Vipers.
-Dauphin is very good on home ice and will be tough to beat with a large crowd behind them.
-Lets see if the Kings have any trouble containing and slowing down the Gill-Jones line.
-Can Dauphin keep up with the Vipers speed and skill?
-Dauphin needs to find a way to shutdown the Vipers like Powell River & Spruce Grove were able to do for periods of time.
-Tonight should be a very excitinh hockey game.
Dauphin Kings Regular Season Scoring:
Shane Luke (29-72-101)
Ryan Dreger (53-46-99)
Bryce Lamb (38-51-89)
Zeanan Ziemer (25-51-76)
Steven Shamanski (19-52-71)
Mitch Czibere (22-29-51)
Cody Esposito (23-18-41)
Colton Graf (17-24-41)
Troy Hunter (11-21-32)
Patrick Kozyra (5-27-32)
Mathew Backhouse (1-23-24)
Mike Boese (2-19-21)
Devin Mitzner (10-8-18)
Angus Klassen (10-8-18)
Travis Cech (7-11-18)
Dallas Drysdale (1-15-16)
Justin Michaud (6-9-15)
Tyler Gaudry (2-10-12)
Colin Paull (3-8-11)
Joel Kot (1-10-11)
Michael Sofillas (0-0-0)
Jared Morris (0-0-0)
Dale Hunt (0-0-0)
Joe Caligiuri (29-6-1 Record, 1 Shutout- 2.59 GAA)
Brett Willows (21-5 Record, 2 Shutouts- 2.80 GAA)
Dauphin Playoff Scoring:
Steven Shamanski (7-15-22)
Bryce Lamb (9-9-18)
Zeanan Ziemer (6-12-18)
Shane Luke (10-5-15)
Ryan Dreger (3-10-13)
Troy Hunter (5-6-11)
Devin Mitzner (5-6-11)
Mitch Czibere (8-2-10)
Mike Boese (0-9-9)
Patrick Kozyra (0-9-9)
Colton Graf (1-7-8)
Joel Kot (2-6-8)
Cody Esposito (4-1-5)
Angus Klassen (0-2-2)
Dallas Drysdale (0-2-2)
Justin Michaud (1-1-2)
Tyler Gaudry (0-2-2)
Colin Paull (0-2-2)
Travis Cech (0-1-1)
Mathew Backhouse (0-1-1)
Joe Caligiuri (11-1 Record, 2 Shutouts- 1.70 GAA)
Brett Willows (0-0 Record, 0 Shutouts- 3.00 GAA)
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