Friday, April 5, 2024

Game Preview: 1st Round Playoffs - Game 1 Trail @ Vernon:

Trail 28-20-6-0 @ Vernon 33-19-2-0 7pm

Tonight is the seventh meeting of the season (pre-season, regular season & playoffs) between the Vernon Vipers & Trail Smoke Eaters. The Smoke Eaters went 4-1 vs the Vipers

Vernon's record & stats vs the Smoke Eaters since 2002

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 95-30-1-5-1 vs Trail

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon has outscored Trail 542-319

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 50-9-0-4-0 at home vs. Trail

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 38-19-1-1-1 in Trail

The Vipers are 9-0-1-0 in their last ten home games vs. the Smoke Eaters

The Vipers are 5-4-0-0-1 in their last ten road games vs. the Smoke Eaters

The Vipers last regular season win at home vs. Trail was a 3-2 victory on Saturday, January 6th 2024

The Smoke Eaters last regular season win in Vernon was a 3-2 overtime victory on Friday, November 24th 2023

The Vipers last regular season win in Trail was a 3-1 victory on Saturday, February 25th 2023

The Smoke Eaters last regular season win at home vs. Vernon was a 6-2 victory on Saturday, March 9th 2024

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Vernon Vipers/Trail Smoke Eaters 2023-24 regular season schedule:

November 24th Trail @ Vernon: Smoke Eaters won 3-2 overtime
December 8th Vernon @ Trail: Smoke Eaters won 5-2
January 6th Trail @ Vernon: Vipers won 3-2
January 27th Vernon @ Trail: Smoke Eaters won 3-1
March 9th Vernon @ Trail: Smoke Eaters won 6-2

Vernon Vipers/Trail Smoke Eaters Previous Playoff Series:

1996-97 Vernon defeated Trail 4 games to 1 (1st round)
1997-98 Trail defeated Vernon 4 games to 3 (1st round)
2002-03 Vernon defeated Trail 4 games to 0 (Interior Conference Finals)
2003-04 Trail defeated Vernon 4 games to 1 (1st round)
2006-07 Vernon defeated Trail 4 games to 1 (Interior Conference Semi finals)
2007-08 Vernon defeated Trail 3 games to 0 (1st round)
2016-17 Vernon defeated Trail 4 games to 1 (Interior division semi finals)
2018-19 Vernon defeated Trail 4 games to 3 (2nd round)

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The 33-19-2-0 Vernon Vipers are coming off a 6-2 win Saturday over the visiting Powell River Kings. The Vipers open the BCHL playoffs vs the Trail Smoke Eaters a team they only beat twice if you include the pre-season and regular season. The Snakes went 1-4 vs Trail during the regular season. The last time the Vipers & Smoke Eaters met, the Smokies won 6-2 March 9th in Trail. This is the ninth time in franchise history the Snakes & Smoke Eaters have played in the playoffs. The last time these two teams met in the playoffs, Vernon won in 7 games in 2019. The Vipers ended the regular season winning nine of their last twelve home games. The Snakes won four of their last five regular season games and seven of their last ten games. Vernon finished 4th in the Interior Conference eight points ahead of 5th place Trail and three points back of 3rd place Salmon Arm.

Vernon Vipers 2023-24 Roster:


Vernon Vipers 2023-24 Regular Season Scoring Leaders:

Hank Cleaves (15-36-51)

Vernon Vipers 2023-24 Regular Season Record/Stats:

Games Played: 54
Wins: 33
Losses: 19
Overtime Wins: 4
Overtime Losses: 2
Shootout Wins: 1
Shootout Losses: 0
Overtime Record: 4-2
Shootout Record: 1-0
Home Record: 18-7-2-0
Road Record: 15-12-0-0
When the Vipers score first: 24-6
When the opponents score first: 9-14
Leading after the 1st period: 19-0
Tied after the 1st period: 12-9
Trailing after the 1st period: 3-11
Leading after the 2nd period: 23-3
Tied after the 2nd period: 9-1
Trailing after the 2nd period: 1-16
Out shooting opponents: 15-2
Out shot by opponents: 15-16
One goal games: 10-5
Goals for: 195
Goals against: 152
Record vs Interior Division: 24-19
Record vs Coastal Division: 8-1
Longest winning streak: 7 games
Longest losing streak: 4 games
Standings: 4th Place Interior Conference

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Hank Cleaves 03
Julian Facchinelli 04
Luke Pakulak 03
Isaac Tremblay 04
Anthony Cliche 03
Connor Elliott 03
Ethan David 03

Vernon Vipers departed & traded players from last years team:

Jonathan Horn 02
Thomas Tien 04
Connor Welsh 04
Max Borovinskiy 04
Ethan Merner 06
Seiya Tanaka-Campbell 03
Ethan Sundar 03
Walker Erickson 02
Reagan Milburn 03
Lee Parks 04
Ayden Third 02
Griffen Barr 02
Dylan Compton 05
Luke Ashton 05
Anson McMaster 02
Roan Clarke 03

Vernon's 2023-24 regular season home record vs Trail:

1-0-1-0

Vernon's 2023-24 regular season road record vs Trail:

0-3-0-0

Vernon's 2023-24 regular season scoring leaders vs Trail:

Luke Pakulak (3-1-4)
Connor Elliott (1-2-3)
Hank Cleaves (1-2-3)
Adam Csabi (0-3-3)
Isaac Tremblay (2-1-3)
Erik Pastro (0-1-1)
Bronson Ross (0-1-1)
Payton Struck (1-0-1)
Luke Bibby (0-1-1)
Nick Mikan (1-0-1)
Noah Dorey (0-1-1)
Owen Kim (0-1-1)
Anthony Cliche (0-1-1)

Colin Reay (0-1 Record)
Ethan David (1-3 Record)

Let's take a look at the Trail Smoke Eaters:

The Trail Trail 28-20-6-0 Trail Smoke Eaters make their fourth visit of the pre-season/regular season to Kal Tire Place, are coming off a 4-2 victory Saturday in Salmon Arm. The last time the Smoke Eaters were in Vernon, the Vipers won 3-2 January 6th. The Smokies finished the regular season winning five of their last six road games. Trail won three of their final five games and seven of their last ten games. Trail finished 5th in the Interior Conference twelve points ahead of 6th place Merritt and six points back of 4th place Vernon. 

Trail Smoke Eaters 2023-24 Roster:


Trail Smoke Eaters 2023-24 regular season scoring leader:

Mathieu Cobetto-Roy (27-24-51)

Isaac Fecteau played with the 2023-24 Vernon Vipers was traded to Trail February 10th 2024

Trail Assistant Coach Dallas Calvin played with the 2013-14 Vernon Vipers

Trail Smoke Eaters 2023-24 Record/Stats:

Games Played: 54
Wins: 28
Losses: 20
Overtime Losses: 6
Shootout Losses: 0
Home Record: 16-8-3-0
Road Record: 12-12-3-0
Goals for: 186
Goals against: 187
Standings: 5th Place Interior Conference

Trail Smoke Eaters Returning Players:

Adam Marshall 03
Ethan Mann 03
Mathieu Cobetto-Roy 03
Ridge Dawson 04
Teagan Kendrick 04
Josh Schenk 04
Maxim Potvin 03
Alec Whipple 04
Judah Makway 04
Adam Parsons 03
Ethan Warrener 03

Trail Smoke Eaters departed and traded players from last years team:

Connor Seeley 05
Rhett Hamilton 04
Brady Hunter 02
Nicholas Remissong 02
Trey Fechko 03
Ethan Willoughby 02
Jordan Hendry 02
Brody Juck 05
Brady Smith 05
Evan Bushy 02
Keegan Maddocks 03

Trail's 2023-24 regular season home record vs Vernon:

3-0-0-0

Trail's 2023-24 regular season road record vs Vernon:

1-1-0-0

Trail Smoke Eaters 2023-24 regular season scoring leaders vs Vernon:

Mathieu Cobetto-Roy (5-3-8)
Ethan Warrener (1-5-6)
Adam Barone (1-5-6)
Ridge Dawson (2-3-5)
Jason Stefanek (2-2-4)
Adam Parsons (1-2-3)
Adam Marshall (1-2-3)
Chase Stefanek (2-1-3)
Josh Schenk (1-1-2)
Ethan Mann (1-1-2)
Judah Makway (1-1-2)
Jack Kennedy (0-1-1)
Isaac Fecteau (0-1-1)
Gryphon Bucci (0-1-1)
Lucas Lemieux (0-1-1)
Nathan Dominici (0-1-1)
Kailus Green (0-1-1)
Maxim Potvin (0-1-1)
Christian Kim (1-0-1)

Ryan Parker (2-0 Record) 
Keegan Kendrick (2-1 Record)

9 comments:

vipersdiehardfan said...

How will the Vipers do tonight?

How will the Vipers do in the series? Make your predictions, who will win the series and in how many games?

Marty said...

Trail will win series 4 games to 2. All year Trail has frustrated Vernon, smothering their offense. Starting Goalie's STATs are practically identical. The Smokies play a much better team game and are more disciplined. Sorry, my heart is with the Vipers but my head says that the Vipers are in tough.

Ron said...

There’s plenty of talent on both sides. Systems will play a huge roll in this series. I think Vernon’s size may be the difference. They should be able to wear them down in a prolonged series. Vernon in six.

JB said...

Vernon in 6 games. This won’t be an easy series for Vernon. They must show up for 60 minutes for every game.

Bobby C said...

Unfortunately Trail in 5 or 6. They have been one of the most improved teams since Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Smoke and Mirrors, 4, Reality, 2

vipersdiehardfan said...

I don't make predictions but I will say if Jason McKee was still Head Coach/GM the Vipers season would be over pretty quick. Now that McKee is gone, I think anything is possible. Assistant Coaches Colton Sparrow & Lukas Lomicky are 7-2-1-0 since the Vipers parted ways with Jason McKee. Consistency has been a big issue for the Vipers all season and that had a lot to do with Jason McKee. The Vipers need to be more consistent, play sixty minutes, be disciplined, use their size to their advantage, use home ice to their advantage and goaltending is always key come playoffs.

The Smoke Eaters went 4-1 vs the Vipers this season

Before Christmas the Vipers went 16-10-1-0
After Christmas the Vipers went 17-9-1-0

Before Christmas the Smoke Eaters went 11-11-6-0
After Christmas the Smoke Eaters went 17-9-0-0

Anonymous said...

We have played mostly the weaker teams since McKee left and we barely beat them.

Anonymous said...

McKee was a joke a bad one! He was useless. Only lasted as long as he did because he was a buddy of the owners. I still don't go to the game because of him. He ruined a lot of young mens lives because of his brutal coaching.