This Isn’t Just Any Regular Season Home Opener:

Tomorrow night marks the Vernon Vipers 2010-11 home opener, & this isn’t just any regular season home opener. Friday nights home opener will be and should be very special for the fans and the players and the Vipers organization. Friday nights home opener vs Salmon Arm marks a night when the Vipers will raise all six championship banners to the rafters to hang along the rest of the 54. The Vipers will raise the BCHL regular season pennant winner banner, Interior Division Pennant winner banner, Interior Conference Champions banner, Fred Page Cup Champions banner, Doyle Cup Champions banner and of course the Vipers 6th National Championship banner (RBC Cup banner).

Unlike last years home opener when the Vipers raised all the championship banners to the rafters, I was pretty disappointed. Other then the regular player introduction and the raising of the banners that was it for the Vipers home opener. For the team winning their 5th National Championship I was expecting alot more, maybe its just me but there was nothing special or unique about the pre game ceremonies. I must say in all the years of following Junior hockey here in Vernon I have to say that the 2007-08 Vipers home opener was by far the best in team history. The Vernon Vipers were carried out onto the ice in the teams opening ceremonies in the back of the Vernon RCMP pickup trucks with the lights flashing as they introduced each player. Then a swat team member come shooting down a rope from the rafters, the officer then ran to a RCMP van on the ice and opened the back doors as the Vipers Captain & Assistant Captains jumped out from the back of the van. Very cool and well thought out idea.

On that note I hope that after winning a record 6th National Championship & of course back to back RBC Cups the Vernon Vipers put on a great show and pre game ceremony for the home town fans and players included. There are several former players still living in and around the Okanagan and Im sure would love to be a part of the opening ceremonies to honor the teams 6th National title.

Lets make tomorrow night be one to remember! Go Vipers Go!