(Game Preview) Quesnel @ Vernon:

Quesnel (3-5-0-0) @ Vernon (5-4-0-2)

Tonight is the second meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Quesnel Millionaires. Quesnel makes it’s first visit of the season to Vernon. The last time the Millionaires played at the Wesbild Centre they fell 4-0 in Game 5 of the second round of the BCHL playoffs last year. Tonight is the Vipers fourth game in six days. Tonight is the first game of a four game road trip for the Mills (Vernon, Powell River, Surrey & Penticton) Quesnel has played just one of it’s first eight games on the road.

Last Game Played:

Sunday, October 3rd Vernon defeated Merritt 4-3 (Overtime)
Saturday, October 2nd Salmon Arm defeated Quesnel 5-1

Next Game:

Friday, October 8th Vernon @ Westside
Friday, October 8th Quesnel @ Powell River

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Games Played: 11
Wins: 5
Losses: 4
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 2
Home Record: 1-3
Road Record: 4-3
Streak: One Game Winning Streak
Goals For: 33
Goals Against: 31
Standings: 3rd Place

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon is 37-7-1-1 vs. Quesnel

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon has outscored Quesnel 218-99

For more stats & former Vernon Junior Hockey Team rosters & lineups please visit Paul’s Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

http://members.shaw.ca/vernonfranchise/index.html

Returning Players:

Bryce Kakoske (90)
David Robinson (90)
Blake Voth (91)
Steve Weinstein (90)
Adam Thompson (90)
Dylan Walchuk (92)
Patrick McGillis (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Connor Jones (90)
Mike Collins (90)
Braden Pimm (89)
Cory Kane (90)
Jonathan Milhouse (89)
Kellen Jones (90)
Rob Short (89)
Cole Ikkala (90)
Dan Nycholat (89)
Kevin Kraus (89)
Curtis Gedig (91)
Garrett Noonan (91)
Sahir Gill (92)
Darrin Robak (91)
Graeme Gordon (89)

-The Vipers have just one win (vs. Penticton) on home ice, losing it’s last two home games.

-Vernon can’t take Quesnel lightly as the Mills will be looking for revenge after a 5-2 loss to the Vipers in Quesnel just over a week ago.

-The Vipers will have to try and get lots of pucks and traffic towards Kirby Halcrow who has always played well against the Vipers.

-Specialty teams will be key

-Unlike the past few years playing the Millionaires isn’t an easy two points anymore, the Vipers will have to work hard, compete and play a full 60 minutes in order to win tonight.

-Two out of Vernons last three games have gone to overtime.

-Both these two teams will meet up three times in the next nine games.

-With 16 new players this season, Vernon has a very young club and has been uncosistant all season. The Vipers need to try and get on a role and build some confidence.

-Vernon has just one win in it’s last three games.

Let's take a look at the Quesnel Millionaires:

Games Played: 8
Wins: 3
Losses: 5
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 0
Home Record: 2-5
Road Record: 1-0
Streak: Two Game Losing Streak
Goals For: 15
Goals Against: 27
Standings: Tied With Prince George For 5th Place

Returning Players:

Clayton Chessa (91)
Justin Hogan (90)
Spencer Graboski (93)
Skyler Smutek (90)
Chris Kerr (92)
Tyler French (90)
Sam Higgins (90)
Anderson White (91)
Kirby Halcrow (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Trever Hertz (89)
Taylor Holst (89)
Darick Ste-Marie (89)
Eliot Raibl (89)
Joshua Desmarais (89)
Jacob Verheyden (89)
Rylan Stanyer (90)
Mitch Galbraith (90)
Tyler Billon (92)
Tyson Price (91)
Marley Keca (93)
Brandon Watson (92)
Luke Siemens (92)

-Quesnel will be looking for revenge after losing to Vernon 5-2 just over a week ago on home ice.

-The Mills have played just a single game on the road to date, how will they do on the larger ice surface in Vernon?

-The Millionaires have to try and slow down the Vipers speed, and try and get under their skin. The Vipers have been known to get into penalty trouble early into games.

-Kirby Halcrow needs to come up with the big save when needed, Halcrow is a game saver.

-Quesnel was 0-2 at the Wesbild Centre last year during the regular season, and went 1-2 in Vernon during the playoffs.

-The Millionaires need to try and find some offence, as they have only scored 15 goals all season to date.

-After a great playoff run last year, and getting some key veterans back this season I was expecting more from the Mills this year. It is early, will the Mills climb up the standings in a tough Interior Division?

Here’s a look at the season series between these two teams:

Saturday, September 25th @ Quesnel: Vernon wins 5-2

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Vernon Vipers at 11:46 (PP) - Michael Zalewski from Steven Weinstein and John Knisley
Vernon Vipers at 16:27 - Trevor Fitzgerald from Todd Skirving and Colton Sparrow

PERIOD 2

Vernon Vipers at 7:16 (PP) - Bryce Kakoske from Steven Weinstein and John Knisley

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 0:41 (PP) - Steven Weinstein from Dylan Walchuk and Kyle Murphy
Quesnel Millionaires at 1:51 - Justin Hogan from Spencer Graboski and Sam Higgins
Vernon Vipers at 12:46 (PP) - Kyle Murphy from Todd Skirving and Brett Corkey
Quesnel Millionaires at 14:26 - Derek Huisman from Daryl DeVries and Sam Higgins

Vernon outshot Quesnel 35-15. Blake Voth made 13 saves for the win, while Kirby Halcrow made 30 saves in the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840258&link=bchl

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (7-5-12)
David Robinson (3-7-10)
Bryce Kakoske (3-6-9)
John Knisley (3-6-9)
Aaron Hadley (1-5-6)
Marcus Basara (2-4-6)
Michael Zalewski (2-4-6)
Steven Weinstein (2-3-5)
Adam Thompson (1-4-5)
Kyle Murphy (2-3-5)
Trevor Fitzgerald (4-1-5)
Todd Skirving (1-2-3)
Brett Corkey (0-2-2)
Colton Sparrow (0-2-2)
Malcolm Lyles (1-1-2)
Patrick McGillis (0-1-1)
Philip Patenaude (0-1-1)
Elliot Richardson (1-0-1)
Darren Nowick (0-1-1)
Max Mowat (0-1-1)
Gus Correale (0-0-0)

Bryton Udy (0-2 Record, 4.28 GAA)
Blake Voth (5-4 Record, 1 Shutout, 2.39 GAA)

Quesnel:

Justin Hogan (3-3-6)
Clayton Chessa (4-0-4)
Daryl DeVries (2-2-4)
Spencer Graboski (1-3-4)
Sam Higgins (0-4-4)
Skyler Smutek (0-3-3)
Tyler French (0-3-3)
Sterling Bear (1-1-2)
Mike Zgraggen (0-2-2)
Devin Balness (2-2-4)
Derek Huisman (2-0-2)
Chris Kerr (0-2-2)
Malcolm Gould (0-1-1)
Chris Albee (0-0-0)
Rigby Burgart (0-0-0)
Stefan Gonzales (0-0-0)
David Thompson (0-0-0)
Anderson White (0-0-0)
Quin Buckellew (0-0-0)
Ryan Crossen (0-0-0)
Bradley Buckingham (0-0-0)

Kirby Halcrow (1-1 Record, 2.03 GAA)