Viper Season Taking Shape:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Viper season taking shape

Published: July 29, 2012

The Vernon Vipers will battle an unfamiliar foe when they open their B.C. Hockey League exhibition schedule on Saturday, Aug. 25 at Wesbild Centre.

The Snakes, whose main camp starts Aug. 23, will start the preseason by hosting the NAHL Wenatchee Wild.

After that, it’s a home-and-home with the West Kelowna (formerly Westside) Warriors – Monday, Aug. 27 at Wesbild, and Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Royal LePage Place.

The preseason wraps up with another doubleheader against Troy Mick’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks, the first leg going Friday, Aug. 30 at the Shaw Centre. The teams battle again Saturday, Sept. 1 at Wesbild.

All 16 BCHL teams will open their regular seasons in Chilliwack for the league’s first-ever Showcase Tournament at Prospera Centre.

Vernon will tangle with the defending RBC Cup Champion Penticton Vees Saturday, Sept. 8, followed by a Sunday morning tilt against the reigning Coastal Conference champion Powell River Kings.

The Snakes return to the Okanagan for a home-and-home against the ‘Backs, starting Friday, Sept. 14 in Salmon Arm. Vernon’s home opener is Saturday, Sept. 15.

All but nine of Vernon’s 56 regular-season games (down from 60 the year before) fall on either a Friday or Saturday. Anomalies for home games include Wednesday-nighters against the Merritt Centennials on Oct. 17 and the Trail Smoke Eaters on Jan. 9, a Thursday-night tilt against the Smokies on Dec. 6, and a Sunday 4 p.m. matinee with the Victoria Grizzlies on Feb. 10 (All other Viper home games are 7 p.m. puck drops).

n Meanwhile, the Vipers are looking for sponsorship and players for their inaugural Charity Golf Tournament for KidSport, which goes Sunday, Aug. 26 at The Rise.

Entry fee for the 18-hole scramble is $150 and includes golf, power cart, dinner, tee gift and prizes. There will be a 1 p.m. shotgun start.

Entries and sponsorship at several levels are required. Interested parties may call Ranger at 250-545-7425, or e-mail lee.ranger@therise.ca, or Vipers’ marketing manager Paula Coulter at 250-542-6022 ext. 200, or marketing@vipers.bc.ca.