(Game Preview) Vernon @ Coquitlam:

Vernon (12-8-1-5) @ Coquitlam (10-10-1-4)

Tonight is the first meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Coquitlam Express. The Express are back in Coquitlam for a second go around after moving from Burnaby to Coquitlam over the off season. Tonight is the third of a five game road trip for the Vipers, Vernon started the trip with a 4-3 loss in Salmon Arm Saturday night & then lost 5-2 in Powell River Wednesday night. Tonight is the start of a four game home stand for the Express before heading on the road for five straight. The Express are coming off a 10-2 pounding Wednesday night in Langley. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller starting at 6:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM

Last Game Played:

Wednesday, November 17th Powell River defeated Vernon 5-2
Wednesday, November 17th Langley defeated Coquitlam 10-2

Next Game:

Saturday, November 20th Vernon @ Langley
Saturday, November 20 Powell River @ Coquitlam

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Games Played: 26
Wins: 12
Losses: 8
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 5
Home Record: 5-3-1-3
Road Record: 7-5-0-2
Streak: Three Game Losing Streak
Last Ten Games: 4-3-0-3
Goals For: 83
Goals Against: 68
Standings: 4th Place

Previous to this season, the Express have only played in Coquitlam from 2001-2005 before moving to Burnaby.

From the 2003-05 regular season Vernon is 3-1-0-0 vs. Coquitlam

From the 2003-05 regular season Vernon has outscored Coquitlam 12-11

From the 2003-05 regular season Vernon is 2-0-0-0 at home vs. Coquitlam

From the 2003-05 regular season Vernon is 1-1-0-0 in Coquitlam

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 10-3-0-0 vs. Burnaby-Coquitlam

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon has outscored Burnaby-Coquitlam 49-30

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 10-3-0-0 at home vs. Burnaby-Coquitlam

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 5-2-0-0 in Burnaby-Coquitlam

The Vernon Lakers changed their name to the Vernon Vipers to start the 1995-96 season. Here’s a look at the Vipers all-time regular season record

Games Played: 926
Wins: 595
Losses: 242
Ties: 11
Overtime Losses: 81

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)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-The Vipers have just four wins in their last ten games

-Three out of Vernons last six losses have been in overtime

-Blake Voth is 4th in the leagues top ten goaltenders with a 2.37 GAA

-Tonight is the first of three straight games for Vernon

-Vernon has lost three straight for the first time since early October of 2007

-The Vipers powerplay has struggled all season and is currently 13th in the league

-The Vipers have lost three straight on the road

-Forward Mike Zalewski has atleast a goal in three straight games for Vernon

-Vernon has lost two straight away from home

-This is the Vipers third game of a current five game road trip. On paper tonight will be the Vipers weakest opponent but the game isn’t played on paper. Vernon has struggled vs some of the leagues bottom teams so cant take the Express lightly

-Forward John Knisley has atleast one assist in five straight games

-Goaltending will be key

-The Vipers have struggled offensively all season and have scored five or more goals in just five games all year

-Vernon needs to get off to a good start. Wednesday night the Vipers fell behind 2-0 and had to battle back just to tie the hockey game but ended up losing in the end. Tonight the Vipers need to try and take an early lead and try and build on that lead through out the contest

Let's take a look at the Coquitlam Express:

Games Played: 25
Wins: 10
Losses: 10
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 4
Home Record: 7-4-1-0
Road Record: 3-6-0-4
Streak: One game losing streak
Last Ten Games: 2-5-1-2
Goals For: 92
Goals Against: 99
Standings: Tied for 6th place with Alberni Valley

For more coverage and info on the Coquitlam Express, please visit the Coquitlam Expressions blog, http://expressvoice.blogspot.com/

Returning Players:

Brad Reid (90)
Garrick Perry (90)
Malcolm McKinney (92)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Rich Manley (89)
Dylan Herold (89)
Simon Denis (91)
Colby Kulhanek (89)
James Bettauer (91)
Zac Ashdown (91)
Jimmy Geerin (89)
Brodie Jamieson (92)
Chris Van Duynhoven (89)
Konrad Sander (90)
Alex Petan (92)
David Dotan (91)
Michael Mackie-Kwist (91)
Paul De Jersey (92)
Lane Menage (91)
Stefan Gonzales (92)
Sean Dinsmore (91)
Harrison May (89)
Nick Enegren (92)
Robin Billingham (91)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-Before the Express’s 10-2 loss to Langley Wednesday night, Coquitlam picked up atleast one point in four straight games

-Coquitlam has struggled away from home but has been pretty good on home ice with a 7-4-1-0 record

- Brad Reid has atleast a point in five straight games for the Express

-Coquitlam has the leagues 5th best powerplay

-The Express have struggled on the penalty kill. Coquitlam sits 15 out of the leagues 16 teams on the penalty kill

-The Express will need to play a full 60 minutes vs. Vernon

-Coquitlam who sits at 500 needs to be better and with the next four straight games on home ice, is a great chance for the Express to build as a team

-Specialty teams will be key tonight

Coquitlam didn’t have a team last year so these two teams didn’t face each other.

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (11-14-25)
John Knisley (6-16-22)
Bryce Kakoske (8-13-21)
David Robinson (11-8-19)
Michael Zalewski (7-10-17)
Kyle Murphy (5-11-16)
Aaron Hadley (7-9-16)
Malcolm Lyles (3-9-12)
Adam Thompson (4-8-12)
Marcus Basara (6-5-11)
Steven Weinstein (2-7-9)
Max Mowat (1-8-9)
Patrick McGillis (4-4-8)
Trevor Fitzgerald (5-3-8)
Brett Corkey (0-8-8)
Darren Nowick (0-7-7)
Todd Skirving (2-3-5)
Elliot Richardson (1-3-4)
Colton Sparrow (0-2-2)
Philip Patenaude (0-1-1)

Bryton Udy (1-4 Record, 3.27 GAA)
Blake Voth (11-9-1 Record, 2 Shutouts, 2.37 GAA)

Coquitlam:

Massimo Lamacchia (12-15-27)
Brad Reid (11-16-27)
Destry Straight 10-17-27)
Garrick Perry (11-14-25)
Jason Grecica (9-9-18)
Alex Petan (7-11-18)
Riley McIntosh (5-12-17)
Michael Krgovich (6-6-12)
Jared Eng (3-10-13)
Malcolm McKinney (4-6-10)
Steven Axford (3-3-6)
Matthew Hutchinson (0-6-6)
Mitchell Deacon (4-0-4)
Justin Georgeson (1-5-6)
Austin Carroll (3-0-3)
Jacob Charles (0-3-3)
Wade Bennett (0-2-2)
Mitch Pacey (0-2-2)
Mark Begert (0-0-0)
Cole Gelley (0-0-0)

Khaleed Devji (7-7-1 Record, 3.63 GAA)
Luke Hernandez (3-7 Record, 4.14 GAA)