Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Game Preview: 1st Round-Interior Division Semifinals: Game 1 Merritt @ Vernon:

Interior Division Semi-Final-Game 1 Merritt (32-24-0-2) @ Vernon (36-18-1-3) 7pm

Tonight is Game 1 of the Interior Division semi-final best of seven series between the Vernon Vipers & Merritt Centennials as both teams will be meeting for the eighth time this season. The Vipers won the regular season series 5-2-0-0  This is the ninth time these two teams will meet in the playoffs where Vernon has won seven of the previous eight playoff series vs Merritt.  You can listen to tonight's game live with Graham Turnbull starting with the pre-game show at 6:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM
 
Last Game:

Friday, February 27th Penticton defeated Vernon 3-2
Saturday, February 28th Trail defeated Merritt 5-2

Next Game:

Game 2 Wednesday, March 4th Merritt @ Vernon

Vipers-Centennials Interior Division Semi-Final Schedule:

Game 1 Tuesday, March 3rd Merritt @ Vernon 7pm
Game 2 Wednesday, March 4th Merritt @ Vernon 7pm
Game 3 Friday, March 6th Vernon @ Merritt 7:30pm
Game 4 Saturday, March 7th Vernon @ Merritt 7:30pm
Game 5 Monday, March 9th Merritt @ Vernon 7pm
Game 6 Tuesday, March 10th Vernon @ Merritt 7:30pm
Game 7 Wednesday, March 11th Merritt @ Vernon 7pm

Here's a look at the regular season series between Vernon & Merritt

Friday, October 3rd Vernon @ Merritt (Centennials win 4-0)
Friday, October 24th Merritt @ Vernon (Vipers win 4-2)
Saturday, November 1st Merritt @ Vernon (Vipers win 5-3)
Wednesday, November 26th Merritt @ Vernon (Vipers win 7-3)
Friday, December 19th Vernon @ Merritt (Centennials win 6-3)
Saturday, January 24th Vernon @ Merritt (Vipers win 5-1)
Wednesday, January 28th Merritt @ Vernon (Vipers win 4-3)

Here’s a look at the previous playoff meetings between Vernon & Merritt

1984-85 Interior Division Semifinals Merritt defeated Vernon 4 games to 3
1987-88 Interior Division Semifinals Vernon defeated Merritt 4 games to 0
1988-89 Interior Division Finals Vernon defeated Merritt 4 games to 0
1989-90 Vernon defeated Merritt in a Round Robin Playoff format
1996-97 Interior Division QuarterfinalsVernon defeated Merritt 4 games to 0
1998-99 Interior Division Semifinals Vernon defeated Merritt 4 games to 1
1999-2000 Interior Division Conference Finals Vernon defeated Merritt 4 games to 3
2001-2002 1st Round Vernon defeated Merritt 4 games to 0

Vernon-Merritt Regular Season Overall Records-Stats:

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 432-236-20-20

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 238-95-11-10 at home

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 195-131-9-10 on the road

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 58-18-3-8 vs. Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon has outscored Merritt 338-222

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 28-6-1-4 at home vs. Merritt

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 24-9-2-5 in Merritt

The Vipers are 6-3-0-1 in their last ten games at home vs. the Centennials

The Vipers are 3-4-2-1 in their last ten games on the road vs. the Centennials

The Vipers are 5-4-1-0 in their last ten games vs. Merritt

The Vipers last win at home vs Merritt was a 4-3 victory on Wednesday, January 28th 2015

The Centennials last win in Vernon was a 1-0 victory on Saturday, October 26th 2013

The Vipers last win in Merritt was a 5-1 victory on Saturday, January 24th 2015

The Centennials last win at home over Vernon was a 6-3 victory on Friday, December 19th 2014

The Vipers went 2-3-1-1 vs the Merritt Centennials last season




Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The defending Interior Division Conference Champion Vernon Vipers meet the Merritt Centennials in the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-2002 season where Vernon swept the Centennials in four straight.  The Vipers finished the regular season on a two game losing streak with losses in Salmon Arm & Penticton.  Vernon finished 2nd in the Division ten points ahead of Merritt in the standings.  The Vipers won three of their final five regular season games finished 6-3-0-1 in their final ten regular season games.  The Vipers have won four straight at home over Merritt have lost just ten games to the Cents in their last thirty eight home games.  Vernon has won twelve of their last thirteen & fifteen of their last sixteen games on home ice.   

Thomas Aldworth (37-19-56) lead the Vipers in goals with thirty seven while Liam Finlay (23-41-64) leads the team in points with sixty four.

Vipers goaltender Jarrod Schamerhorn played eight games with the Cents last season before being traded to Vernon on July 22nd 2014 for future considerations

Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Venom Blog

http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/

Vernon Vipers 2014-15 Regular Season Stats:

Games Played: 58
Wins: 36
Losses: 18
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 3
Home Record: 20-6-1-1
Road Record: 16-12-0-2
Overtime Record: 1-2-1
Record vs Interior Division: 20-14-1-1
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 16-4-0-2
Record in September: 2-2-0-1
Record in October: 5-3-0-0
Record in November 9-2-1-1
Record in December 6-3-0-0
Record in January 8-4-0-0
Record in February 6-4-0-1
When the Vipers score first: 24-3-1-1
When the opponents score first: 12-16-0-2
Leading after 1st Period: 18-2-1-1
Tied after 1st Period: 11-7-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 7-9-0-2
Leading after 2nd Period: 25-2-0-1
Tied after 2nd Period: 7-2-0-0
Trailing after 2nd Period: 4-14-1-1
Out shooting Opponents: 30-12-0-2
Out shot by Opponents: 5-5-1-1
One goal games: 7-6-0-3
Goals For: 218
Goals Against: 161
Place: 2nd Place
Streak: Two game losing streak

-Vernon finished the regular season with the leagues 4th best powerplay

-The Vipers finished the regular season with the leagues 4th best penalty kill

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

TJ Dumonceaux (94)
Danny Todosychuk (94)
Riley Guenther (94)
Kenny Citron (95)
Liam Coughlin (94)

Vernon Vipers Departing & traded players from last years team:

Dexter Dancs (95)
Michael McNicholas (94)
Brett Mulcahy (93)
Demico Hannoun (95)
Jared Wilson (94)
Colton Sparrow (93)
Mason Blacklock (94)
Josh Bryan (93)
Brendan Persley (93)
Logan Mick (96)
Ryan Renz (93)
Michael Statchuk (94)
Tyler Povelofskie (96)
Matty Saharchuk (95)
Austin Smith (93)
Dylan Chanter (95)

Vernon’s Home record vs. Merritt this season:

4-0-0-0

Vernon’s Road record vs. Merritt this season:

1-2-0-0

Vernon’s scoring leaders vs. Merritt this season:

Liam Coughlin (4-5-9)
Thomas Aldworth (6-2-8)
Liam Finlay (3-5-8)
Luke Shiplo (0-6-6)
Jagger Williamson (0-4-4)
Colton McCarthy (2-2-4)
Johnny Coughlin (1-3-4)
Luke Voltin (2-1-3)
Mitch Meek (1-2-3)
Anthony Latina (0-3-3)
TJ Dumonceaux (1-2-3)
Brandon Egli (1-2-3)
Blaine Caton (1-1-2)
Anthony Latina (1-1-2)
Kenny Citron (1-1-2)
Mitchell Oliver (0-1-1)
Riley Brandt (0-1-1)
Riley Guenther (1-0-1)
Linden Hora (0-1-1)
Nicholas Rasovic (0-1-1)
Michael Roberts (1-0-1)

Danny Todosychuk (2-0 Record)
Jarrod Schamerhorn (3-2 Record)


Lets take a look at the Merritt Centennials:

The Merritt Centennials make their fifth visit to Kal Tire Place this season where they went 0-4 during the regular season.  Since the 2002-03 regular season Merritt has just ten wins in Vernon.  The Centennials are coming off a 5-2 home loss to the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday to wrap up the 2014-15 regular season.  Merritt clinched 3rd place in the Interior Division earning them a first round playoff matchup vs Vernon after a 5-1 win in Salmon Arm Friday.  The Cents finished the regular season with a 32-24-0-2 record won three of their final five regular season games.  The Centennials went 6-4-0-0 in their final ten regular season games.  Merritt went 5-5 in their last ten road games.  Merritt's lone playoff series victory over Vernon was a seven game series win in the 1985 Interior Division Semifinals.  The Cents have lost their last seven playoff series to Vernon since 1985. 

John Schiavo (30-32-62) lead the Centennials in goals with thirty and in points with with sixty two.

Centennials Head Coach-GM Luke Pierce played his final year of Junior hockey with the 2003-04 Vernon Vipers

Merritt Centennials 2014-15 Regular Season Stats:

Games Played: 58
Wins: 32
Losses: 24
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 2
Home Record: 19-10-0-0
Road Record: 13-14-0-2
Record vs Interior Division: 19-20-0-1
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 15-6-0-1
Record in September: 5-3-0-0
Record in October: 6-5-0-0
Record in November 5-6-0-1
Record in December 5-2-0-1
Record in January 6-6-0-0
Record in February 7-4-0-0
Goals For: 208
Goals Against: 207
Place: 3rd Place
Streak: One game losing streak

-The Centennials finished the regular season with the leagues 6th best powerplay

-Merritt finished the regular season with the league's 11th best penalty kill

Merritt Centennials Returning Players:

Shane Poulsen (94)
Diego Cuglietta (95)
Gavin Gould (96)
James Neil (95)
Jake Clifford (94)
Rhett Willcox (96)
Malik Kaila (96)
Devin Oakes (95)

Merritt Centennials Departing & traded players from last years team:

Scott Patterson (93)
Jeff Wight (95)
Sebastien Pare (93)
Daniel Nachbaur (95)
Adam Tracey (95)
Sam Johnson (94)
Jason Bird (93)
Payton Schaefer (93)
Tyler Martin (93)
Dane Birks (95)
Zach Hartley (95)
Wayland Williams (94)
Devin Kero (94)
Jarrod Schamerhorn (95)

Merritt's Home record vs. Vernon this season:

2-1-0-0

Merritt's Road record vs. Vernon this season:

0-4-0-0

Merritt's scoring leaders vs. Vernon this season:

John Schiavo (5-3-8)
Gavin Gould (1-7-8)
Michael Ederer (3-5-8)
Josh Teves (0-7-7)
Colin Grannary (1-4-5)
Diego Cuglietta (0-4-4)
James Neil (3-0-3)
Nick Fidanza (3-0-3)
Jake Clifford (2-1-3)
Brandon Duhaime (1-2-3)
Shane Poulsen (0-3-3)
Devin Oakes (0-1-1)
Braden Fuller (1-0-1)
Matt Foley (0-1-1)
Cole Chorney (1-0-1)
Rhett Willcox (0-1-1)
Zak Bowles (1-0-1)
Sam Johnson (0-1-1)

Anthony Pupplo (0-4 Record)
Jonah Imoo (2-1 Record-1 Shutout)

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon Vipers:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamid=224096

Merritt Centennials:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamid=224100

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