Series-Game Preview: Vernon (12-7) @ Spruce Grove (12-4)The Fred Page Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Enerflex Cup Champion Spruce Grove Saints meet in the Doyle 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. Vernon now will be looking for their record 7th Doyle Cup Championship. The Saints are also coming off a 1st Round bye before sweeping the Bonnyville Pontiacs in four games. Spruce Grove then defeated the Camrose Kodiaks in five games before winning the Enerflex Cup in seven games over the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Spruce Grove is looking for their 3rd Doyle Cup Championship. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 5:45pm
Lets take a look at both teams,
Vernon Vipers: (12-7)
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.
The Doyle Cup was donated by Penticton businessman Pete Doyle and his family in 1985 and is presented to the winner of the Best-of-7 series between the BCHL and AJHL playoff champions. Since the Cup was introduced the BCHL has won 16 of 25 championships. Vernon (BCHL) has won the most titles with SIX, followed by the Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) with four. Penticton and Surrey are the only other B.C. teams to have won multiple Doyle Cups.
From 1968 to 1984 there were 15 B.C./Alberta Championships as the event was not contested in 1970 or 1979. The BCHL won six titles, the AJHL captured eight championships and the Richmond Sockeyes of the PCJHL won in 1977. Penticton was the only B.C. team to win multiple BC/Alberta Championships.
The Winner of the Doyle Cup advances to the RBC Cup, Canada's National Junior A Hockey Championship, as the representative for the Pacific Region.
Vernon has been to the Doyle Cup 8 times since the Cup was awarded back in 1985. Vernon has a record 6 Doyle Cups going 6-8 in Doyle Cup Play. Let’s take a look at Vernon’s history in the Doyle Cup.
YEAR BCHL REPRESENTATIVE DOYLE CUP SERIES RESULT
2009 Vernon Vipers Won 4-0 over Grand Prairie Storm
2003 Vernon Vipers Lost 4-2 to Camrose Kodiaks
1999 Vernon Vipers Won 4-1 over Calgary Canucks
1996 Vernon Vipers Won 4-3 over St. Albert Saints
1992 Vernon Lakers Won 4-3 over Olds Grizzlies
1991 Vernon Lakers Won 4-1 over Calgary Royals
1989 Vernon Lakers Won 4-2 over Red Deer Rustlers
1988 Vernon Lakers Lost 4-0 to Calgary Canucks
1972 Vernon Essos Lost 4-2 to Red Deer Rustlers
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
Home Playoff Record: 7-3
Road Playoff Record: 5-4
The Vipers are looking at repeating as Doyle Cup Champions since the 1991-1992 Vernon Lakers last repeated as Champs. A Doyle Cup Championship and Vernon is heading back to the Royal Bank Cup for the second year in a row, and will try and become the first team since the 1990-1991 Vernon Lakers to win back to back National Championships. The Vipers start off the Doyle Cup on the road in Spruce Grove a town and rink they arnt use too, and depending on who wins the first two games, Vernon could come home with a 2-0 lead in the series and remainder of the games at the Wesbild Centre. Im sure both these two teams don’t really know much about one another other then team stats. The Vipers do know they are facing the #1 ranked team in Canada and 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 Saints 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 seven game series. It will be interesting to see how these two teams match up against one another.
The BCHL website has come up with a good media page on the Vernon Vipers and the Fred Page Cup Champions, Check it out,
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/1413/graphics/2010%20Doyle%20Media%20Kit.pdf
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)
Spruce Grove Saints: (12-4)
The Saints finished the regular season in 1st place in the North Division & were ranked #1 overall in Canada with a record of 52-4-1-3 The Saints scored a league high 252 goals and gave up a league best 99 goals. Spruce Grove had two players in the regular season’s top 20 in scoring. Joshua Lazowski (26-52-78) & Nate Fleming (23-38-61) Travis Rolheiser & Vincenzo Marozzi were # 2 & 3 in the regular season’s top 10 goaltenders. Travis Rolheiser went 26-3 with 4 shutouts and a GAA of 1.58 Vincenzo Marozzi went 26-1-4 with 7 shutouts and a GAA of 1.67
Former Vernon Vipers forward, Brett Switzer is in his second season with the Saints after being traded to Spruce Grove last year. Switzer was one of the Vipers recruits and signed with Vernon but was traded early into the season.
The Saints franchise is perhaps the most storied in the history of Canadian Junior A hockey. The only franchise remaining from the inception of the AJHL in 1963, the team began as the Edmonton Movers, and a season following a merger with the Edmonton Maple Leafs in 1972, the franchise first relocated to Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets. After three years in Spruce Grove, the franchise relocated again to nearby St. Albert to become the St. Albert Saints for the 1977-78 season. After 27 years in St. Albert, arena issues allowed the franchise to return for its second stint in Spruce Grove in 2004-05.
Over 50 former players have gone on to play in the NHL, including Mark Messier, Stu Barnes, Mike Comrie and Steve Reinprecht.
During its first stint in Spruce Grove, the Mets won the Centennial Cup 1975 as Canadian Jr. A national champions. The franchise also captured four more AJHL championships during its time in St. Albert.
The Spruce Grove Saints have yet to win the Doyle Cup since leaving St. Albert & moving back to Spruce Grove back in 2004-05. The Spruce Grove Mets won their first and second Doyle Cup Championships back to back in 1975 & 1976. In 75 Spruce Grove defeated Bellingham in six games and then defeated Richmond in five games in 1976.
For more info and stat’s visit the Saints website,
http://www.sgsaints.com/
2010 Spruce Grove Saints Playoff Schedule & Results:
1st Round: First Round Bye
2nd Round: Defeated Bonnyville in four games
3rd Round: Defeated Camrose in five games
Enerflex Cup: (AJHL Finals): Defeated Fort McMurray in seven games
Home Playoff Record: 7-2
Road Playoff Record: 5-2
The Saints also come into this series, Im sure not knowing a whole lot about the Vernon Vipers. Spruce Grove who has been #1 in all of Canada most of the season sounds like they have a solid four lines, with a lot of depth and a few big defenceman. Spruce Grove dosnt have a #1 goaltender, rotating both goaltenders every game, unless one records a shutout, this giving him the automatic next start. No matter win or lose the Saints switch up goaltenders every game, a very interesting move by the coaching staff. Both teams look alike on paper wich should make for a good series. You can bet the Saints will be looking to try and win the first two games of this series before heading back for the remainder of the games in Vernon. Lets see if the Saints have any trouble containing and slowing down the Gill-Jones line.
Here’s a story from the Edmonton Journal on the Saints winning the Enerflex Cup
http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/2010/04/13/13576596.html
Spruce Grove Goaltender Vincenzo Marozzi backstops Saints with shutout in Game 7, here’s an article from the Edmonton Journal,
http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/2010/04/14/13576631.html
Penticton Vees play by play man, Ryan Pinder talked to Bonnyville Pontiacs play by play man, Robb Hunter this week to see what he could find out about these Saints. Bonnyville was eliminated in four games to Spruce Grove these playoffs. Hunter has a good take on Spruce Grove. Take a listen,
http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/2010/04/15/who-are-the-spruce-grove-saints/
Spruce Grove Saints Regular Season Scoring:
Joshua Lazowski (26-52-78)
Nate Fleming (23-38-61)
Adam Henderson (21-35-56)
Jordan Draper (22-30-52)
Scott Allen (25-26-51)
Kodie Curran (10-38-48)
Dillon Simpson (12-29-41)
Ryan Kerr (12-17-29)
Brett Cameron (9-20-29)
Brett Switzer (13-14-27)
David Glen (12-13-25)
Liam Darragh (11-14-25)
Josh Keizer (12-11-23)
Carson Cooper (6-15-21)
Malcolm Tomlinson (2-16-18)
Bryce Van Brabant (8-6-14)
Josh Koper (9-2-11)
Shaun Rolling (7-4-11)
Wes McLeod (4-6-10)
Jesse Slobodian (0-10-10)
Rory Connop (1-4-5)
Tim Nolte (2-1-3)
Tyler Hart (1-1-2)
Travis Rolheiser (26-3 Record, 4 Shutouts- 1.58 GAA)
Vincenzo Marozzi (26-1-4 Record, 7 Shutouts- 1.67 GAA)
Spruce Grove Playoff Scoring:
Adam Henderson (14-6-20)
Brett Cameron (9-7-16)
Jordan Draper (6-9-15)
Kodie Curran (3-8-11)
Scott Allen (5-5-10)
Josh Koper (5-5-10)
Joshua Lazowski (3-6-9)
David Glen (3-5-8)
Carson Cooper (2-5-7)
Wes McLeod (2-5-7)
Nate Fleming (1-6-7)
Dillon Simpson (0-6-6)
Josh Keizer (2-3-5)
Bryce Van Brabant (1-4-5)
Ryan Kerr (1-3-4)
Liam Darragh (1-1-2)
Tyler Hart (0-2-2)
Rory Connop (0-1-1)
Tim Nolte (0-1-1)
Brett Switzer (0-0-0)
Malcolm Tomlinson (0-0-0)
Shaun Rolling (0-0-0)
Jesse Slobodian (0-0-0)
Travis Rolheiser (4-4 Record, 1 Shutouts- 2.10 GAA)
Vincenzo Marozzi (8-0 Record, 2 Shutouts- 1.63 GAA)
Here's a look at the Vipers-Saints Doyle Cup Schedule:
#2 Vernon Vipers vs #1 Spruce Grove Saints
2010 Doyle Cup Schedule:
Sweep First Two Games
Game 1 April 16, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 2 April 17, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 3 April 20, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 4 April 21, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 5 April 23, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 6 April 24, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 7 April 25, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Split First Two Games
Game 1 April 16, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 2 April 17, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 3 April 18, 2010 @ Spruce Grove 7:00 PM
Game 4 April 21, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 5 April 22, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 6 April 24, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
Game 7 April 25, 2010 @ Vernon 7:00 PM
No comments:
Post a Comment