Vipers Backup Goaltending Position A Toss Up:

Mark Ferner and Jason Williamson have a very tough choice to make before the BCHL regular season starts Friday. The Vipers will start the season with 19 yr old second year goaltender, Blake Voth as the teams #1 goaltender. The coaching staff now has to choose between Calgary product, Bryton Udy (93) or Vernon product Tyler Steel (93) for the backup position. Who will get the job?

Tyler Steel: I was very impressed with Steel’s play at the blue and white games as well as in the 3-0 victory over Salmon Arm Friday night. Steel went 12-5 last year with the KIJHL Sicamous Eagles after being cut late at the Vipers training camp. Steel is listed at 6”1 180 lbs from Vernon, BC. This kid is very quick on his feet, handles the puck well and has a very quick, good glove hand. Steel is ready for the BCHL and if cut will land on another BCHL roster.

Bryton Udy: I was impressed with Udy’s play at the blue & white games as well as in the 3-0 win over the Silverbacks this past weekend. Udy played in 21 games last year with the Calgary Buffaloes, collecting a 3.00 GAA Udy also played 1 game as an “AP” last year with the AJHL Camrose Kodiaks. Udy went 0-1 with a GAA of 3.09 giving up 3 goals on 29 shots. Udy is listed at 6”3 165 lbs from Calgary, Alberta and is drafted by the WHL Prince George Cougars. This kid is a bigger goaltender, who isn’t as quick as Tyler Steel but with his bigger size covers more of the net. Likes to play the puck, plays his position well, & looks confident between the pipes.

I really like both young goaltenders, its a shame both cant play in Vernon this season. You could almost flip a coin for who gets the backup job. Both goaltenders have different qualities but are very well qualified for the job. Its going to be tough to choose one or the other. I really don’t know who I would take, having a local (Vernon) kid on the team is always nice and always a fan favourite but yet having a bigger goaltender and someone away from home, with not as much pressure is good too. Anyone have a coin?