(Game Preview) Vernon @ Penticton:

Vernon (20-8-3-6) @ Penticton (24-11-1-1)

Tonight is the fourth meeting of the season between the defending back to back Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Penticton Vees. Tonight is the Vipers fifth game of a current six game road trip, Vernon started out the trip last week with a 5-2 win in Cowichan Valley, a 4-0 victory in Victoria, a 1-1 tie in Alberni Valley before knocking off Nanaimo Sunday afternoon 3-2. Penticton is coming off a two game road trip with a 5-4 loss in Salmon Arm before knocking off the Warriors 2-1 Wednesday night in Westside. The Vees are now home for three straight. You can listen to today’s game live with Todd Miller, starting with the pre-game show at 6:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM

Last Game Played:

Sunday, December 12th Vernon defeated Nanaimo 3-2
Wednesday, December 15th Penticton defeated Westside 2-1

Next Game:

Wednesday, December 29th Vernon @ Salmon Arm
Saturday, December 18th Nanaimo @ Penticton

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Games Played: 37
Wins: 20
Losses: 8
Ties: 3
Overtime Losses: 6
Home Record: 7-3-2-3
Road Record: 13-5-1-3
Streak: (One game winning streak, unbeaten in nine games)
Last Ten Games: 7-0-2-1
Goals For: 117
Goals Against: 88
Standings: 2nd place

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 30-17-1-3 vs. Penticton

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon has outscored Penticton 175-141

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 14-5-1-1 at home vs. Penticton

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 13-8-0-1 in Penticton

Vernon is 6-3-0-1 in their last ten visits to Penticton

Vernon has won five straight vs. Penticton

Vernons last loss in Penticton was a 3-2 overtime loss back on Saturday, December 12th 2009

Pentictons last win in Vernon was a 4-1 victory back on Friday, December 4th 2009

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: 937
Wins: 603
Losses: 242
Ties: 13
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)

Vernons Home Record vs. Penticton:

1-0

Vernons Road Record vs. Penticton:

2-0

Vernons Powerplay vs. Penticton this season:

2-9

Vernons scoring leaders vs. Penticton this season:

David Robinson (1-3-4)
Dylan Walchuk (3-1-4)
Aaron Hadley (0-3-3)
Steven Weinstein (0-3-3)
Patrick McGillis (1-2-3)
Kyle Murphy (1-2-3)
Malcolm Lyles (0-2-2)
John Knisley (1-1-2)
Marcus Basara (1-1-2)
Trevor Fitzgerald (1-1-2)
Michael Zalewski (1-0-1)
Bryce Kakoske (1-0-1)
Brett Corkey (0-1-1)
Darren Nowick (0-1-1)
Todd Skirving (0-1-1)
Adam Thompson (1-0-1)

Blake Voth (3-0 Record, 1 Shutout)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-The Vipers are 6-3 all-time during the regular season at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

-Bryce Kakoske has five points (2-3-5) in seventeen career games vs. Penticton

-Adam Thompson has five points (2-3-4) in sixteen career games vs. Penticton

-The Vipers are 3-0 against the Vees this season

-Vernon has won it’s last four regular season games at the South Okanagan Events Centre

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

-Vernon has the leagues second worst powerplay

-Vernon is playing it’s best hockey of the season, unbeaten in their last nine games

-The Vipers last loss was a 5-4 overtime loss to the Langley Chiefs back on Saturday, November 20th in Langley

-The Vipers are unbeaten in their last six road games (5-0-1)

-Goaltending will be key for both teams tonight

-Specialty teams will also be key for both teams tonight

-A win by the Vipers and Vernon moves into 1st place in the Interior Division

-Tonight is the Vipers final game before the Christmas break

-Vernon has only surrendered 88 goals this season, wich is second best behind the league leading Powell River Kings, who have given up just 61

-Tonight is the Vipers final regular season game in Penticton

-Since their last meeting with the Vees back on October, 22nd (5-0 Viper win) the Vipers are 11-3-2-4

Let's take a look at the Penticton Vees:

Games Played: 37
Wins: 24
Losses: 11
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 13-4-1-1
Road Record: 11-7-0-0
Streak: One game winning streak
Last Ten Games: 6-3-1-0
Goals For: 135
Goals Against: 103
Standings: 1st Place

For more info, stats and great coverage on the Vees, please visit Ryan Pinders Penticton Vees blog, http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/

Returning Players:

Garrett Milan (91)
Logan Johnston (91)
Joey Holka (90)
Joey Laleggia (92)
Derik Johnson (90)
Stefan Nicholishen (93)
Joel Rumpel (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Beau Bennett (91)
Denver Manderson (89)
Alex Szczechura (90)
Andrew Pickering (89)
Ben Sexton (91)
Matt Paltridge (89)
Ryan Viselli (89)
Eric Filiou (89)
Bo Dolan (90)
Isaac Macleod (92)
Luke Curadi (91)
Byron Sorensen (91)
Sean Bonar (91)
Jake Johnson (89)

Pentictons Home Record vs. Vernon:

0-2

Pentictons Road Record vs. Vernon:

0-1

Pentictons Powerplay vs. Vernon this season:

1-11

Pentictons scoring leaders vs. Vernon this season:

Joey Holka (1-1-2)
Bradley Robbins (1-1-2)
Garrett Milan (0-1-1)
Troy Stecher (1-0-1)
Joey Benik (0-1-1)
Joey Laleggia (0-1-1)

Joel Rumpel (0-3 Record)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-Garrett Milan has eight points (3-5-8) in seventeen career games vs. Vernon

-Joey Holka has four points (3-1-4) in seventeen career games vs. Vernon

-Former Vernon Vipers forward, Mark Hall faces his former team for the third time this season. Hall played one season in Vernon (2006-07) before joining the WHL Kamloops Blazers.

-Penticton has two chances to stay atop the Interior Division this weekend. A win over the Vipers tonight and the Vees will remain in top spot during the Christmas break or a loss to Vernon and the Vees will get a second shot tomorrow night to try and climb back into first place with a win over the Nanaimo Clippers

-Joey Laleggia (16-33-49) & Brendan O'Donnell (15-29-44) are both in the leagues top twenty in scoring

-Joel Rumpel is 5th amongst the leagues top ten goaltenders with a 2.59 GAA

-Penticton is the 3rd highest scoring team in the league with 135 goals

-The Vees have just four regulation losses at home, two have come against the Vernon Vipers

-Joey Laleggia & Brendan O'Donnell have points in eight straight games

-The Vees have just one loss in their last seven home games

-Penticton has been outscored 12-3 in three games vs. Vernon this year

-The Vees have to get off to a good start and cant fall behind early to the Vipers

-Penticton has to jump on the Vipers defence who are currently playing with just four defenceman

-Since their last meeting with the Vipers back on October, 22nd (5-0 Viper win) the Vees are 12-6-1-1

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

Friday, September 17th @ Penticton: Vernon won 3-2

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Vernon Vipers at 6:57 - John Knisley (unassisted)
Vernon Vipers at 7:42 - Trevor Fitzgerald from Kyle Murphy and Patrick McGillis
Penticton Vees at 16:42 (PP) - Joey Holka from Garrett Milan and Joey Laleggia
PERIOD 2

No Scoring

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 1:33 - Dylan Walchuk from Marcus Basara and David Robinson
Penticton Vees at 19:54 (EN) - Troy Stecher from Joey Holka

Penticton outshot Vernon 25-23. Blake Voth made 23 saves for the win, while Joel Rumpel made 20 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840251&link=bchl

Saturday, September 18th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 4-1

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Penticton Vees at 13:34 - Bradley Robbins from Joey Benik and Joey Laleggia

PERIOD 2

Vernon Vipers at 5:19 - Michael Zalewski from Brett Corkey and John Knisley
Vernon Vipers at 11:53 - Dylan Walchuk from David Robinson and Aaron Hadley
Vernon Vipers at 17:42 (PP) - Bryce Kakoske from Steven Weinstein and David Robinson

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 14:57 (SH) - David Robinson from Dylan Walchuk and Aaron Hadley

Shots were even 26-26. Blake Voth made 25 saves for the win, while Joel Rumpel made 22 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840055&link=bchl

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Vernon Vipers at 1:45 - Patrick McGillis from Malcolm Lyles and Steven Weinstein
Vernon Vipers at 17:37 (PP) - Adam Thompson from Steven Weinstein and Kyle Murphy

PERIOD 2

Vernon Vipers at 13:37 (SH) - Kyle Murphy from Trevor Fitzgerald

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 7:41 - Marcus Basara from Todd Skirving and Malcolm Lyles
Vernon Vipers at 12:26 - Dylan Walchuk from Patrick McGillis and Darren Nowick

Vernon outshot Penticton 35-21. Blake Voth made 21 saves for the shutout, while Joel Rumpel made 23 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840252&link=bchl

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (17-20-37)
Bryce Kakoske (12-22-34)
David Robinson (19-10-29)
Michael Zalewski (10-15-25)
John Knisley (6-18-24)
Aaron Hadley (8-11-19)
Kyle Murphy (8-11-19)
Adam Thompson (4-14-18)
Malcolm Lyles (4-13-17)
Marcus Basara (8-8-16)
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 (3-4-7)
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 (2-0-1 Record, 1.56 GAA)
Blake Voth (17-9-2 Record, 2 Shutouts, 2.12 GAA)

Penticton:

Joey Laleggia (16-33-49)
Brendan O'Donnell (15-29-44)
Joey Benik (17-14-31)
Joey Holka (13-16-29)
Mark MacMillan (14-14-28)
Garrett Milan (7-14-24)
Kyle Mountain (9-10-19)
Logan Johnston (8-11-19)
James Polk (5-14-19)
Tyler Hlookoff (2-15-17)
Troy Stecher (3-13-16)
Curtis Loik (4-10-14)
Mark Hall (4-5-9)
Steven Iacobellis (3-6-9)
Derik Johnson (2-4-6)
Michael Betz (1-5-6)
Myles McCauley (4-0-4)
Kyle Beaulieu (0-3-3)
Paul Bezzo (0-3-3)
Chad Bannor (0-0-0)

Joel Rumpel (15-6-1 Record, 1 Shutout, 2.59 GAA)
Billy Faust (9-6 Record, 1 Shutout, 3.00 GAA)