(Game Preview) Vernon @ Surrey:

Vernon (13-8-1-6) @ Surrey (15-9-1-1)

Today is the first meeting of the season between the defending back to back Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Surrey Eagles. Today is the final game of a five game road trip for the Vipers, Vernon started the trip with a 4-3 loss in Salmon Arm Saturday night, Wednesday lost 5-2 in Powell River, Friday defeated the Coquitlam Express 4-3 in overtime and lost 5-4 in overtime in Langley last night. Today is the fifth game of a six game home stand for the Eagles. The Eagles are coming off 1-1 tie with the league leading Powell River Kings. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller starting at 3:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM

Last Game Played:

Saturday, November 20th Langley defeated Vernon 5-4 (overtime)
Friday, November 19th Surrey tied Powell River 1-1

Next Game:

Friday, November 26th Trail @ Vernon
Thursday, November 25th Victoria @ Surrey

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Games Played: 28
Wins: 13
Losses: 8
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 6
Home Record: 5-3-1-3
Road Record: 8-5-0-3
Streak: One game winning streak
Last Ten Games: 4-3-0-3
Goals For: 91
Goals Against: 76
Standings: 4th Place

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

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon has outscored Surrey 51-37

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 4-2-0-0 at home vs. Surrey

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 6-1-0-0 in Surrey

Vernons last loss in Surrey was a 5-2 loss back on Saturday, October 25th 2004

Surreys last win in Vernon was a 3-2 victory back on Wednesday, September 26th 2007

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: 928
Wins: 596
Losses: 242
Ties: 11
Overtime Losses: 82

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:

-Tonight is the Vipers third game in three days

-Vernon has struggled offensively and needs others to start putting the puck in the net

-Blake Voth is 5th in the leagues top ten goaltenders with a 2.40 GAA

-Forward Bryce Kakoske has points in four straight games

-The Vipers need to get off to a good start

-Vernon is 1-2-0-2 vs. the Coastal Conference this year

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

-The Vipers havnt lost in Surrey in six years

-This being the Vipers fourth game in their last five nights, will the team have any gas left in the tank?

-Five of Vernons last ten games have gone to overtime where the Vipers have just one ot winner

-Vernon is 1-3 on this current five game road trip

-The Vipers are just two points back of 3rd and three points back of 2nd place but now sit six points back of the first place Trail Smoke Eaters

Let's take a look at the Surrey Eagles:

Games Played: 26
Wins: 15
Losses: 9
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 6-4-1-1
Road Record: 9-5-0-0
Streak: Unbeaten in one game
Last Ten Games: 6-2-1-1
Goals For: 107
Goals Against: 93
Standings: 3rd Place

Returning Players:

Bradley McGowan (90)
Riley Sweeney (92)
Tyler Morley (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Andrew Wallace (89)
Michael Krgovich (90)
Grant Toulmin (89)
Richard Vanderhoek (91)
Adam Basford (89)
Chris Santiago (89)
Josh Pineiro (89)
Jason Grecica (90)
Cole Gelley (91)
Manraj Hayer (93)
Paul Levarsky (89)
Jamus Lane (92)
Jeff Regier (91)
Erik Cooper (91)
Connor Tiechko (92)
Derek Henderson (90)
Wes Vannieuwenhuizen (92)
Vinny Lessard (90)
Mike Chan (90)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-Surrey has scored 107 goals wich is third best in the BCHL

-The Eagles have troubles keeping the puck out of the net, giving up 93 goals

-Surrey is 3-2-0-0 vs. the Interior Conference this year

-Bradley McGowan (22-27-49) is tied for the league in scoring. Jeff Vanderlugt (16-16-32) is 18th in league scoring

-Bradley McGowan has points in five straight games

-The Eagles have five players who know the Vernon Vipers fairly well after playing in the Interior Conference previous to joining the Surrey Eagles. Mitch Jones (Penticton & Merritt), Riley Sweeney (Williams Lake), Josh Monk (Salmon Arm), Steve Koshey (Trail), Hayden Trupp (Penticton),

-The Eagles have just three losses in their last ten home games

-Surrey has the leagues best powerplay

- Karel St-Laurent is 8th in the leagues top ten goaltenders with a 2.60 GAA

-The Eagles need to jump on the Vipers, who are playing their third game in as many days

-Surrey needs to use the bigger ice surface to their advantage

-The Vipers are well known for their forecheck and puck pressure, the Eagles need to play physical against Vernon and try and take away their game plan

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

Friday, November 20th @ Surrey: Vernon wins 5-1

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Vernon Vipers at 11:07 (SH) - Rob Short from Dylan Walchuk and Cole Ikkala
Vernon Vipers at 16:32 (PP) - Dylan Walchuk from Bryce Kakoske and Dan Nycholat

PERIOD 2

Surrey Eagles at 8:26 (PP) - Andrew Wallace from Adam Basford and Cole Gelley
Vernon Vipers at 17:00 - Rob Short from Dylan Walchuk
Vernon Vipers at 18:27 - Mike Collins (unassisted)

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 15:01 - Sawyer Mick from Connor Jones and Kellen Jones

Vernon outshot Surrey 43-24. Graeme Gordon made 23 saves for the win, while Vinny Lessard made 34 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712731

Sunday, February 21st @ Vernon: Vernon wins 7-3

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Vernon Vipers at 6:58 - Connor Jones from David Robinson and Kevin Kraus
Vernon Vipers at 7:26 - Sahir Gill from Cory Kane and Garrett Noonan

PERIOD 2

Vernon Vipers at 1:22 - Trevor Fitzgerald from Adam Thompson and Bryce Kakoske
Vernon Vipers at 11:19 (SH) - Kevin Kraus from Jonathan Milhouse and Dylan Walchuk
Vernon Vipers at 17:39 - David Robinson from Rob Short and Jonathan Milhouse

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 2:28 - Bryce Kakoske from Jonathan Milhouse and Adam Thompson
Vernon Vipers at 5:27 - Cory Kane from Curtis Gedig and Rob Short
Surrey Eagles at 5:36 - Erik Cooper from Josh Pineiro and Paul Levarsky
Surrey Eagles at 14:25 - Bradley McGowan from Michael Krgovich and Jeff Regier
Surrey Eagles at 18:44 - Tyler Morley from Bradley McGowan

Vernon outshot Surrey 53-23. Graeme Gordon made 20 saves for the win, while Mike Chan made 46 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=713010

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (11-16-27)
Bryce Kakoske (9-17-26)
John Knisley (8-16-22)
David Robinson (13-9-22)
Michael Zalewski (8-10-18)
Aaron Hadley (8-10-18)
Kyle Murphy (6-11-17)
Malcolm Lyles (4-9-13)
Adam Thompson (4-9-13)
Marcus Basara (6-5-11)
Max Mowat (1-10-11)
Steven Weinstein (2-7-9)
Patrick McGillis (4-4-8)
Trevor Fitzgerald (5-3-8)
Brett Corkey (0-8-8)
Darren Nowick (0-7-7)
Todd Skirving (3-3-6)
Elliot Richardson (1-3-4)
Colton Sparrow (0-3-3)
Philip Patenaude (0-1-1)

Bryton Udy (1-4-1 Record, 3.32 GAA)
Blake Voth (12-8-1 Record, 2 Shutouts, 2.40 GAA)

Surrey:

Bradley McGowan (22-27-49)
Jeff Vanderlugt (16-16-32)
Mitch Jones (5-20-25)
Daniel Gentzler (6-17-23)
Riley Sweeney (5-14-19)
Michael Stenerson (5-12-17)
Tyler Morley (4-13-17)
Brandon Morley (5-8-13)
Josh Monk (4-8-12)
Steve Koshey (2-8-10)
Scott Holm (4-4-8)
Robert Lindores (3-3-6)
Cobi Smith-Mass (0-3-3)
Hayden Trupp (2-0-2)
Colton Mackie (0-2-2)
Zach Hillhouse (0-1-1)
Tim Coish (0-1-1)
Dale Hunt (0-1-1)
Doug Wedel (0-0-0)
Beau Orser (0-0-0)

Karel St-Laurent (3-1-1 Record, 2.61 GAA)
Andrew Hunt (5-3 Record, 3.40 GAA)