Two Down, One To Go:

The Vernon Vipers started this off season with nine 20 yr olds, well after two trades the Vipers are now down to seven 20 yr olds, meaning the team still has to trade or release another twenty year old before the start of the season. 

Over the summer the Vipers traded 20 yr old defenceman Geoff Crisfield to the AJHL Spruce Grove Saints for future considerations before trading 20 yr old forward Braeden Russell last week to the Powell River Kings for future considerations.

So the big question....  Who is next? 

Here is a look at the Vipers remaining seven 20 year olds still on the roster,

Jason Bird
Josh Bryan
Brendan Persley
Austin Smith
Liam Board
Ryan Renz
Colton Sparrow

The Vipers aquired Russell last summer after he played two previous years with the Oakville Blades.  Russell a 19 yr old veteran had some good size and put up pretty good numbers in Ontario but struggled after an early season injury in Vernon.  Russell looked very good at the Vipers Training Camp last year but was injured in the teams first pre-season game after getting in a fight vs Wenatchee.  Russell would miss almost the next two months of the season and never really fully recover and didnt seem to be the same player.  Only putting up two goals and seven points in a very dissapointing first season.  Very uncosistant and never really found a role on the team, I wasnt too impressed with his play.  I thought the Vipers should have delt Russell last year as he didnt really do much number wise.  So after hearing about this trade last week I wasnt shocked to see he was one of the 20 yr olds moving on.  With Training camp starting August 19th the Vipers are two players over the league limit, meaning one 20 yr old and someone else has to be traded or released.  Training camp should be very competitive with most of the veteran players from last season fighting for a roster spot this year.

Here is a look at the Vipers current and possible roster to date.

Defence:

Jason Bird (93)
Mark Hamilton (94)
Josh Bryan (93)
Kenny Citron (95)
Bryce Eviston (94)
Ryan Renz (93)
Michael Statchuk (94)
Jordan Klimek (95)

Forwards:

Mason Blacklock (94)
Tyler Povelofskie (96)
Liam Board (93)
Demico Hannoun (95)
Dexter Dancs (95)
TJ Dumonceaux (94)
Craig Martin (95)
Mitch McAllister (94)
Liam Coughlin (95)
Logan Mick (96)
Brendan Persley (93)
Matt Saharchuk (95)
Colton Sparrow (93)
Michael McNicholas (94)

Goaltenders:

Austin Smith (93)
Danny Todosychuk (94)

Who do you think will be the final 20 yr old traded or released before the start of this season?  Feel free to make a comment on the comment box below