(Game Preview) Vernon @ Alberni Valley:

Vernon (19-8-2-6) @ Alberni Valley (15-14-2-2)

Tonight is the first meeting of the season between the defending back to back Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Tonight is the Vipers third game of a current six game road trip, Vernon started out the trip with a 5-2 win Wednesday night in Cowichan Valley & a 4-0 victory in Victoria last night. Alberni Valley is coming off a tough 4-3 overtime loss in Nanaimo last night. After playing three of their last four games on home ice, the Bulldogs will hit the road after tonight’s game for their next nine. You can listen to tonight’s game live with Todd Miller, starting with the pre-game show at 6:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM

Last Game Played:

Friday, December 10th Vernon defeated Victoria 4-0
Friday, December 10th Nanaimo defeated Alberni Valley 4-3 in overtime

Next Game:

Sunday, December 12th Vernon @ Alberni Valley
Friday, December 17th Alberni Valley @ Victoria

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Games Played: 35
Wins: 19
Losses: 8
Ties: 2
Overtime Losses: 6
Home Record: 7-3-2-3
Road Record: 12-5-0-3
Streak: Four game winning streak (Unbeaten in seven games)
Last Ten Games: 7-1-1-1
Goals For: 113
Goals Against: 85
Standings: 2nd place

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 9-3-0-2 vs. Alberni Valley

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon has outscored Alberni Valley 59-39

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

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 5-1-0-0 in Alberni Valley

Vernons last loss in Alberni Valley was a 4-1 loss back on Wednesday, December 7th 2005

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: 935
Wins: 602
Losses: 242
Ties: 12
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:

-The Vipers are riding a four game winning streak, and are now unbeaten in their last seven games. This is the Vipers longest winning streak of the season.

-Tonight is the third game of a current six game road trip for Vernon

-The Vipers are 5-2-0-2 vs. the Coastal Conference this season

-Blake Voth is 3rd in the leagues top ten goaltenders with a 2.12 GAA

-Vernon has won five out of their last six road games

-Specialty teams will be key tonight

-Once again the Vipers need to keep things simple

-Goaltending will be key

-Vernon has played eight of their last eleven games away from home

-Since acquiring veteran goaltender, Kirby Halcrow on the December 1st BCHL Card deadline, the Vipers have rotated goaltenders every other game, will they do the same tonight?

-Since giving up two soft goals and getting the hook vs. Salom Arm back on November 12th Blake Voth has played his best hockey of the season going 5-1-1
Let's take a look at the Alberni Valley Bulldogs:

Games Played: 33
Wins: 15
Losses: 14
Ties: 2
Overtime Losses: 2
Home Record: 12-7-1-0
Road Record: 3-7-1-2
Streak: One game losing streak
Last Ten Games: 4-5-0-1
Goals For: 95
Goals Against: 103
Standings: 6th Place

For more info, stats and great coverage on the Bulldogs, please visit the Hammers Bulldogs blog, http://www.hammersdogs.blogspot.com/

Returning Players:

Sam Mitchell (90)
Casey Bailey (91)
Josh Mitchell (91)
Tyler Berkholtz (92)
Trent Dorais (91)
Ryan Renz (93)
Brody Lynott (91)
Frank Riddle (90)
Frank Slubowski (90)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Mitch MacMillan (89)
Mark MacMillan (92)
David Dziurzynski (89)
Tye Lewis (89)
Kevin Ross (90)
Johnny Rogic (90)
Matt Hatch (90)
Warren Muir (89)
Nick Cecere (90)
Jeff Reppucci (91)
Robert Lindores (91)
Adam Hout (89)
Pearce Eviston (92)
Scott Lewan (89)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

- Trent Dorais , Sawyer Mick , Frank Riddle & Marley Keca will all be facing off against their former team tonight. Dorais and Mick played with the Vipers while Riddle and Keca both were at the Vipers training camps at one time.

-The Bulldogs who have scored just 95 goals this season, are the second lowest scoring team in the league behind the Quesnel Millionaires who only have scored 81 goals this season

-Alberni Valley has a pretty good home record but has won just three games away from the Dog Pound

- Frank Slubowski is seventh in the leagues top ten goaltenders with a 2.70 GAA
-The Bulldogs have just one win in their last four home games

-Alberni Valley who has struggled this season with a 500 record are playing a Vernon team that is playing it’s best hockey of the season as of late

-The Bulldogs have just three of their next fourteen games on home ice

-Alberni Valley is 6-2-0-1 vs. the Interior Division this year

-The Bulldogs have played seven of their last ten games at home

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

Sunday, October 11th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 4-1

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Alberni Valley Bulldogs at 9:31 - Warren Muir from Trent Dorais and Ryan Corbiell
Vernon Vipers at 10:03 - Rob Short from Cole Ikkala and Dylan Walchuk

PERIOD 2

Vernon Vipers at 2:41 - Nick Amies (unassisted)
Vernon Vipers at 10:10 - Jonathan Milhouse from Braden Pimm and Mike Collins
Vernon Vipers at 17:52 - Dylan Walchuk from Mike Collins and Jonathan Milhouse

PERIOD 3

No Scoring

Vernon outshot Alberni Valley 39-20. Graeme Gordon made 19 saves in the win, while Frank Slubowski made 26 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712604

Tuesday, January 19th @ Alberni Valley: Vernon wins 6-3

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Vernon Vipers at 0:32 - Connor Jones from Kellen Jones and David Robinson
Alberni Valley Bulldogs at 13:41 - Ryan Renz from David Dziurzynski and Mark MacMillan

PERIOD 2

Vernon Vipers at 5:31 - Braden Pimm from Cole Ikkala and Mike Collins
Vernon Vipers at 10:30 - Cole Ikkala from Garrett Noonan and Braden Pimm

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 2:50 - Dylan Walchuk from Bryce Kakoske and Adam Thompson
Vernon Vipers at 7:31 - Rob Short from Steven Weinstein and David Robinson
Alberni Valley Bulldogs at 12:48 - Johnny Rogic from Frank Riddle and Robert Lindores
Alberni Valley Bulldogs at 14:44 - Casey Bailey from Tye Lewis and Johnny Rogic
Vernon Vipers at 19:26 (EN) - David Robinson from Kellen Jones and Connor Jones

Vernon outshot Alberni Valley 29-27. Graeme Gordon made 24 saves in the win, while Frank Slubowski made 17 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712898

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (17-20-37)
Bryce Kakoske (12-21-33)
David Robinson (17-10-27)
John Knisley (6-18-24)
Michael Zalewski (9-15-24)
Aaron Hadley (8-11-19)
Kyle Murphy (8-11-19)
Adam Thompson (4-14-18)
Malcolm Lyles (4-13-17)
Marcus Basara (8-7-15)
Steven Weinstein (2-11-13)
Brett Corkey (0-13-13)
Trevor Fitzgerald (7-5-12)
Max Mowat (1-10-11)
Patrick McGillis (5-4-9)
Darren Nowick (0-7-7)
Todd Skirving (3-3-6)
Colton Sparrow (0-3-3)
Philip Patenaude (0-1-1)
Zach McPhee (1-0-1)

Kirby Halcrow With Quesnel (5-18-1 Record, 3.56 GAA)
With Vernon (2-0 Record, 1.96 GAA)
Blake Voth (16-9-2 Record, 2 Shutouts, 2.12 GAA)

Alberni Valley:

Sam Mitchell (12-22-34)
Casey Bailey (14-20-34)
Josh Mitchell (12-22-34)
Tyler Berkholtz (15-11-26)
Kenney Morrison (6-16-22)
Trent Dorais (4-13-17)
Colton Sobchak (3-13-16)
Lars Hepso (4-10-14)
Connor Varley (6-6-12)
Ryan Renz (3-6-9)
Brandon Adams (5-3-8)
Sawyer Mick (3-3-6)
Liam Darragh (2-4-6)
Brody Lynott (0-6-6)
Justin Morello (2-3-5)
Oliver McCluskey (0-4-4)
Frank Riddle (0-3-3)
Konrad Litke (1-2-3)
Marley Keca (1-1-2)
Kyle Weber (0-1-1)
Tanner Hicks (0-1-1)

Frank Slubowski (12-13-2 Record, 1 Shutout, 2.70 GAA)
Kiefer Giroux (3-3 Record, 1 Shutout, 3.41 GAA)