Wednesday, April 27, 2011

1996 Royal Bank Cup Recap:

After winning a record third straight Doyle Cup the Vernon Vipers will be making their record 9th trip to the Centennial Cup-Royal Bank Cup and a chance at becoming the first Junior hockey team in history to win three straight National Championships.

Over the next few days and leading up to the 2011 Royal Bank Cup I thought I would take a look back and go through each of the years and give a recap on all of Vernon's previous eight trip's to the National Championship starting with the Vernon Vipers fifth appearence at the 1996 Royal Bank Cup wich was hosted by the the Melfort Mustangs and Melfort, Saskatchewan.

After new ownership and some struggling seasons the Lakers were sold once again, Duncan Wray would change the historic Lakers name to the Vernon Vipers and in 1996 win its first Royal Bank Cup. That year the Centennial Cup had also changed names, now called the Royal Bank Cup. The Vernon Vipers finished in first place in the Interior Division just two pts back of the league leading Chilliwack Cheifs. The Vipers finished the season with a record of 43-13-4 wich was good for 90 pts. Here’s a rundown on how the Vipers did through out the BCJHL’s Playoffs to advance to the teams fifth National Championship winning its 3rd title.

Quarterfinals: Vernon defeated Nanaimo 4-1
Semifinals: Vernon defeated Cowichan Valley 4-0
BCJHL League Finals: Vernon defeated Langley 4-1
Mowat Cup: Vernon defeated Prince George (RMJHL) 3-0
Doyle Cup: Vernon defeated St. Albert (AJHL) 4-3

The Inaugural Royal Bank Cup, 1996 is the Tier II Junior "A" 1996 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.

The Royal Bank Cup was competed for by the winners of the Doyle Cup, Anavet Cup, Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Fred Page Cup and a host city.

The tournament was hosted by the Melfort Mustangs and Melfort, Saskatchewan.

The Playoffs: Round Robin

Rank Team League Ticket W-L GF GA

1 x-Melfort Mustangs SJHL Host 4-0 28 5
2 x-Newmarket 87's OPJHL Dudley Hewitt Cu 2-2 18 22
3 x-Vernon Vipers BCHL Doyle Cup 2-2 17 16
4 x-Yorkton Terriers SJHL Anavet Cup 1-3 12 19
5 Moncton Beavers MJAHL Fred Page Cup 1-3 9 22

Note: x- denotes teams who have advanced to the semi-final.

Results

Melfort Mustangs defeat Yorkton Terriers 7-1
Newmarket 87's defeat Vernon Vipers 7-5
Melfort Mustangs defeat Moncton Beavers 5-0
Newmarket 87's defeat Yorkton Terriers 5-2
Vernon Vipers defeat Moncton Beavers 6-3
Melfort Mustangs defeat Vernon Vipers 5-1
Yorkton Terriers defeat Moncton Beavers 8-2
Melfort Mustangs defeat Newmarket 87's 11-3
Moncton Beavers defeat Newmarket 87's 4-3
Vernon Vipers defeat Yorkton Terriers 5-1

Semifinals:

Melfort Mustangs 7
Yorkton Terriers 3

Vernon Vipers 7
Newmarket 87’s 4

Royal Bank Cup Final: (Live On TSN)

Vernon Vipers 2
Melfort Mustnags 0

Awards

Most Valuable Player: Serge Bourgeois (Moncton Beavers)

Top Scorer: Jason Duda (Melfort Mustangs)

Most Sportsmanlike Player: Valeri Ermolov (Melfort Mustangs)

Top Goalie: Joel Laing (Melfort Mustangs)

Top Forward: Jeff Cheeseman (Vernon Vipers)

Top Defenceman: Curtis Doell (Melfort Mustangs)

Role of League Champions

AJHL: St. Albert Saints
BCHL: Vernon Vipers
CJHL: Cornwall Colts
MJHL: St. James Canadians
MJAHL: Dartmouth Oland Exports
NOJHL: Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats
OPJHL: Newmarket 87's
QPJHL: Contrecoeur Eperviers
RMJHL: Prince George Spruce Kings
SJHL: Melfort Mustangs

Vernon Vipers Roster:

Jeff Cheeseman
Doug Sheppard
Sjon Wynia
Jeff Scissons
Blaine McCauley
Dustin Whitecotton
Josh MacNevin
Brent Dodginghorse
Brad Cook
Sean Patchell
Garth Gartner
John Fife
Adam Stewart
Brian Finch
Kevin McElroy
Nathan Borega
Chad Pounder
Rich Vetter
Wayne Lougheed
Ryan Deacon
Troy Smith
Chris Gaudette
Kevin Danbrook
Igor Maydebura
Mike Millar
Rob Mace
Chad Cammock
Beau Riedel
Todd Laurin

Owner & President Duncan Wray
GM & Head Coach Rob Bremner
Assistant Coach Mike Auerbach
Assistant Coach Troy Mick

For stats & rosters on Vernon Junior Hockey History, Check out Paul's Vernon Franchise website

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

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