After winning back to back Royal Bank Cup Championships the Vernon Vipers have just seven players returning from last years championship team. Steve Weinstein, Adam Thompson, Bryce Kakoske, David Robinson, Blake Voth, Dylan Walchuk & Patrick McGillis. Weinstein & Thompson are the only two that have more then one years experience with the Vipers, & the only two players with back to back RBC Cup rings, both playing in their 3rd season in Vernon.
This year Mark Ferner and Jason Williamson have some huge holes to fill, having to try and find 16 new players to make this years Vernon Vipers roster. When you look back at the past two seasons, Vernon was loaded with lots of key veterans with a ton of BCHL & Jr Hockey experience, something that is so key for a long playoff run. This years returning seven veterans have 742 man games played in the BCHL regular season and playoffs over the past two seasons. Let’s take a look at some veteran players the Vipers are going to miss this year,
Kellen & Connor Jones: Between the two twins both played in 441 career BCHL regular season & playoff games over four years, collecting 486 pts between the two of them. Both won back to back National Championships. These two kids will be the toughest to replace, Viper fans may never see another two players alike, that will work as hard, play as hard and compete as hard as these two. These two brothers were very special and something you don’t see year after year, Both Connor & Kellen Jones were the Vernon Vipers over the past four seasons. Two of if not the two most exiciting players to ever wear a Vipers jersey.
Braden Pimm: Pimmer played three seasons in Vernon playing in 222 regular season and playoff games, picking up 182 pts. Won back to back RBC Cups. A key player that will also be hard to replace, played both ends of the rink, was one of Vernons if not the Vipers best faceoff man. Very dangerous on the penalty kill and blocked a ton of shots. Worked and competed very hard every game. A true work horse fir sure.
Rob Short: A Vernon product who was a fan favourite. Short played four seasons with his hometown Vipers and is another key veteran loaded with experience that will be hard to replace. Short played in 286 career regular season and BCHL playoff games, collecting 165 pts. A key leader, and veteran player who played physical, was one of the Vipers all time best penalty killers and another one of those key veterans that wore his heart on his sleve, a true work horse.
Kevin Kraus: Not always a fan favourite but Kevin got the job done when it counted. Kraus played three seasons with the Vipers, winning back to back RBC Cups. Kraus was named the Captain of last years Vipers team that played in 173 career BCHL regular season and playoff games. Will be tough to replace on the backend. Kevin was a true warrior on the blueline, blocked shots, played physical and logged a ton of minutes. Another player that will be missed.
Jonathan Milhouse: Played just one season with the Vipers but played in back to back RBC Cups, winning and losing one. Milhouse come to Vernon last season in a trade with the Victoria Grizzlies and has three years of BCHL experience as well as WHL experience and will be another key player that will be missed. Milhouse was one of the fastest skaters along with Rob Short on the Vipers. His speed, skill and great penalty kill will be missed.
Sahir Gill: Gill played just one and a half seasons in Vernon but was a key player on a line with Kellen & Connor Jones. These three made it very tough for opposing defence and goaltenders to stop. Gill played in 107 career games winning back to back Royal Bank Cups. Gill may have not been the biggest or strongest player but added alot to the play of Kellen & Connor Jones.
Dan Nycholat: Nycholat left Northeastern University with a chance at wanting to play. A trade before the start of last season brought Dan over to the Vipers. This was a key trade, inwich added a ton of experience and depth on the Vernon blueline. Nycholat played with a ton of confidence and was a key member in helping the Vipers win back to back titles. In 77 carrer games with the Vipers Nycholat picked up 55 pts.
Graeme Gordon: Not a fan favourite by many Viper fans but Gordon always got the job done when called apon. Gordon played in 120 career BCHL regular season and playoff games with the Vipers, Salmon Arm Silverbacks and Merritt Centenials picking up 30 wins last year. Gordon was the Vipers backup behind Andrew Hammond when Vernon won its first of two RBC Cups but would get the job as #1 help winning the 2010 RBC Cup. Gordon made the big save when needed, fans will never forget Gordons huge game saving save in Game 7 vs Powell River and then making a huge save in the RBC Cup final before the Vipers blew the doors wide open.
Obviously there are several other players that were key parts in the Vipers back to back Championship wins, these are just the ones I think will be very hard to replace.
Over the past two seasons Vernon went 93-20-1-6 in the regular season. The Vipers scored 521 goals, giving up 264 goals over the past two years. Come playoff time the Vipers went 46-12 winning back to back RBC Cups. Those numbers are very impressive and will be hard to come close too.
Now let’s hope the Vipers scouts have done their job in trying to find a new group of young kids that can try and replace the ones from years past. It’s not going to be easy, as kids like this just don’t come around year after year. You can scout all the talent and goal scorers in the world but if the team dosn’t gel together and the chemistry isn’t there, the team wont win. Experience and leadership is huge in junior hockey, something the Vipers will be lacking this coming season. The seven players back from last years team will have to try and do their best, at teaching the young new players what winning is all about, and what it takes to be a Vernon Viper. The past two years the Vipers have had a bullseye on there chest, as everyone wants to try and knock off the defending champions. Well this year is no different. The returning players from last year and the 16 newcomers better expect each and every night that no matter who they are playing, that team is going to have a little something extra in order to try and knock off the back to back champs. This years Vipers have a goal to try and exceed, something no other junior hockey team has ever done and thats try and win three straight championships in a row. It wont be easy, but a true challenge I look forward to watching this coming season.
Viper fans may not realize what kind of team they got to watch on a regular basis last season, as many people have said enjoy it while it lasts because you may never see another team like this again. You may never witness a RBC Cup championship again or if you do it may be many years down the road, so Viper fans your going to have to be very patient with this years 2010-11 Vernon Vipers. Many Viper fans are calling this a rebuilding year, so expect a few bumps in the road. Remember the Vipers only lost nine games all season last year, not many teams can say that. As fans lets come to the rink and cheer on our team, and remember we are very spoiled here in Vernon. You could live elsewhere and never come close to the RBC Cup, let alone win six of them.
As being a diehard Vipers fan, I look forward to the challenges this Vipers team has cut out for them. This is why I love junior hockey, each year is a new year with new players and new challenges. Let’s play hockey! Go Vipers Go!
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