Vipers Roster Taking Shape:

Just days before the start of the 2012-13 BCHL regular season the Vernon Vipers aquired some offence after making their third trade of the season aquiring 19 yr old forward Mitch Van Teeling from the MJHL Verden Oil Capitals for 18 yr old forward Brendan Persley.  Van Teeling is listed at 6' feet, 183 lbs spent the past two seasons with the MJHL Dauphin Kings who was traded to the MJHL Steinbach Pistons in May.  Van Teeling was the future considerations part of a trade between the Pistons and Kings from last season (December) when the Pistons sent former team captain Cole Brunet along with Mark Owen last December to the Dauphin Kings for Richard Olsen, minor league prospect Sean Higgins and undisclosed future considerations. The future considerations were Van Teeling, but the trade was undisclosed because the Kings planned to keep Van Teeling for their championship run.

Van Teeling was then traded for a second time in July when the Pistons traded the veteran 19 yr old to the MJHL Virden Oil Capitals on July, 11th for the playing rights of 19 yr old forward Shane Gingera and the protected list rights of 16 yr old forward Ryan Pruden and future considerations.  Van Teeling has now been traded three times since December. 

In two seasons with the Dauphin Kings Van teeling played in 114 regular season games collecting (24-57-81).  Van Teeling was 13th in league scoring last year with 19 goals and 47 points for 66 points in 62 games. He also won team awards for Most Gentlemanly Player, Best Defensive Player and was nominated for Team MVP.

Mitch Van Teeling's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=56615

So far from what I have read on Mitch Van Teeling it sounds like the Vipers are getting a kid that put up some good numbers offensively and is a MVP type player that will add alot to the Vipers lineup and dressing room.  Van Teeling can easily be a top six forward and add some offence up front.  The past few seasons the Vipers have lacked some size and scoring, hopefully Van Teeling will add a bit of both to the lineup. 

I really liked Brendan Persley and thought he was returning to the Vipers this season.  When I didnt see Persley at Training camp I had found out he is attending the WHL Tri-City Americans Training camp.  I thought the Kelowna native played fairly physical and always played with alot of energy.  Persley really started to come into his own last last season and started putting the puck in the net towards the end of the year.  It's too bad he wasnt returning to Vernon this season.  Obviously Persley wanted to give the WHL another shot, the Vipers must have gotten good word that he will be sticking with the Americans this why trading his player rights.

With the Vipers still making their final cuts before the BCHL regular season gets underway it will be interesting to see who stays and who goes.  As of last Saturday night the Vipers needed to make three cuts so it will be interesting to see the teams final roster this weekend at the BCHL Showcase.