I really like the looks of Vipers newcomer Cody Fowlie. The Vipers picked up the veteran 20 yr old forward after he was recently released by the WHL Everett Silvertips. Fowlie made his Vipers debut last Wednesday in a 4-3 loss to the visiting Merritt Centennials. Fowlie wearing Riley Hunts old jersey #10 collected a goal and was named the Vipers energy player of the game.
I thought Fowlie was by far the best Viper that night, played very physical, had lots of jump and energy and added that spark to the Vipers lineup, something they have been missing this season. Fowlie played on the Vipers top unit with Aaron Hadley and Adam Tambellini and didnt look out of place. Fowlie now has a goal and two assists in three games with the Vipers.
With the addition of Fowlie the Vipers now have some tough choices to make. The Vipers are currently two players over the league limit (22) wich means the Vipers will have to trade or release two players. Who will be gone? But hold on..... Just like last season it looks like the injury bug has once again hit the Vernon Vipers. Mitch McAllister played the first two games of the regular season before going down with an injury and is still out of the lineup. Braeden Russell who has yet to play a regular season game with the Vipers was injured in the pre-season and now you can add Brendan Persley to the list. I dont know how one team can get hit with so many injuries in back to back years.
With the addition of Cody Fowlie the Vipers also signed 17 yr old backup goaltender Danny Todosychuk. The Vipers are currently trying to trade backup Joe Young. This move surprises me a little. Both Young & Todosychuk were stated in the paper over the summer to both fight for the #1 job with the Vipers. When training camp started 19 yr old goaltender Austin Smith was in camp wich scooped up the #1 job wich meant Todosychuk and Young battled it out for the backup spot. Young beat out Todosychuk who was the Vipers backup goaltender last year didnt have much luck between the pipes with the Vipers. In all the games I watched him play in he either allowed an early goal just a few minutes into the start of a game or allowed a soft goal. In two games I saw young play in both games he didnt have much luck as two pucks got past him on a lucky bounce. It was really hard to get a good read on this kid when he didnt really face alot of rubber in the games I watched him play. I was a little surprised Young didnt see a little more action before being let go. The Vipers were lucky that they didnt trade Todosychuk after training camp and that he was still avaliable to return to Vernon.
I thought Todosychuk needed to play last season and being on the bench didnt help him as a young 16 yr old. Danny needed to see alot of action, be a #1 guy in the KIJHL somewhere, get a yr old junior hockey under his belt and then come to Vernon as a 17 yr old to be the backup before maybe getting a shot at the #1 job the following season. I thought last season as the backup Danny would have gotten into a few more games then he did. With the Vipers fighting for the final playoff spot they were basically stuck having to go with veteran 20 yr old Kirby Halcrow game in and game out, relying on him to make the playoffs. I think Todosychuk is going to be a good goaltender but needs to play to work on his confidence and rebound control. Danny is very quick but its not doing him no good sitting on the bench as a young 17 yr old.
After the weekend the Vipers have now lost five straight and have just a single win in their last nine games. Will we be seeing more trades here soon? Or will the Vipers stay put and stick with this young group of men they have for a while?
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