Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Vernon Vipers Hit Hard By Changes:

The Vernon Vipers undergo major roster changes as they continue searching for wins.

Here is the story from castanet.net,

Vernon Vipers undergo major roster changes as they continue searching for wins - BCHL - Castanet.net

17 comments:

vipersdiehardfan said...

The Vipers are saying due to the new NCAA rules they have been hit the hardest and this is why the team has had so many roster changes? Come on? The Vipers lost three players, who left the team for the Western Hockey League. I think Chilliwack has lost five or six?

The new rules have affected the BCHL and most teams have lost some players, some more then other teams, but to say you were hit the hardest? I'm not buying it! This is what happens with poor ownership/management/recruiting/scouting and poor decisions. Ten players that were either recruited or signed for this season are gone. The entire scouting staff should be fired! Since training camp, nineteen players are now gone. This is crazy! This season has been a complete disaster and the Vipers are near the bottom of the standings and out of the playoffs. Instead of improving, they are getting worse. Talk to long time fans at the next game and see what everyone thinks of the ownership, management and coaches. Fans are not happy and not happy the way this once proud franchise is going down hill.

Since ownership change in 2018 the Vipers have been an average or below average team with very little regular season or playoff success. Since 2018 this is the worst Vipers team ownership/coaching staff have assembled and there record and play on the ice proves it.

Here are the Vipers transactions since training camp

Forward Sean Gibbons - Released in September
Forward Kole Hyles - Released in September
Forward Carter Streek - Released in September
Forward Landon MacDonald - Signed in September
Forward Kristian Lamanna - Released in September
Forward Will Schumacher - Signed in September
Defenceman Roarke Gilmour - Released in September
Forward Payton Struck - Released in September
Defenceman Marko Stojkov - Signed in September
Forward Bronson Ross - Released in September
Defenceman Isaac Holt - Traded to Prince George in October
Defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk - Acquired in trade with Victoria in October
Defenceman Vinny Ipri - Released in October
Defenceman Carson Lloyd - Traded to Spruce Grove in October
Defenceman Edvin Nilsson - Signed in October
Defenceman Landon Pappas - Signed in October
Defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk - Left team in November for the WHL
Defenceman Lukas McCloskey - Left team in November for the WHL
Forward Carson McGinley - Traded to Sherwood Park in November
Forward Noah Grolnic - Acquired in trade with Cowichan in November
Defenceman Joey Mugaas - Left the team in November for the NAHL Aberdeen Wings
Forward Corban Almen - Signed in November
Defenceman Sam Ward - Signed in November
Defenceman Daniil Dolzhenko - Signed in November
Goaltender Jari Kykkanen - Signed in November
Defenceman Zhenya Miles - Released in November
Forward Dennis Lominac - Signed in November
Forward Shea Busch - Left team for the WHL in November
Goaltender Colin Reay - Traded to Prince George in December
Forward Kyren Gronick - Signed in December
Forward Logan Peskett - Signed in December
Forward Lucas Brennan - Traded to Blackfalds in December
Forward Adam Csabi - Traded to Cranbrook in December

Anonymous said...

"The NCAA rule change has affected teams across the BCHL, but Vipers head coach Lukas Lomicky says his team has been "one of the hardest hit." The Vipers season has been full of ups and downs with big-line up changes impacting the team."

By my count the Vipers:
Lost 3 players to CHL teams, Dowhaniuk, McClosky & Busch.
Mugaas left for the NAHL.
They have made 6 trades, Holt, LLoyd, McGinley, Reay, Brennan, & Czabi with only one player (Gudridge) coming back this way. Am I missing any?
All the other Viper players moving on were "released" by the team.

Let's be honest, although they were affected by the by NCAA rule change by far the "ups and downs with big line-up changes impacting the team" have been self created.

former season ticket holders said...

My wife and I were once long time season ticket holders but due to new ownership and the way the team was being run, it was very hard to not only go to the games the last few years but to watch them. The hockey/team was so bad it was hard to watch so we gave up our season tickets after last season and haven't been back due to ownership

JB said...

If only by a miracle we could have Duncan Wray back along with Mark Ferner.

I’m understanding more why the Wray family wanted to sell the team. A junior hockey team is an extremely tough business to run.

Bobby C said...

It's not a tough business to run if you have REAL HOCKEY PEOPLE running the team

Ben said...

Respectfully, I think it’s a tough business to run. You don’t see a lot of people lining up to do it.

BINGO said...

NOTE: The family the Wrays had the opportunity to sell the team to a group of experienced former hockey players with a ton of contacts. The Wray family turned down the offer because they thought it wasn't enough and took instead a offer of the glens which turned out was less than what the group of serious hockey players had offered. I am thinking when they went back to the first offer as it had been turned down they declined. Shit happens. Future tense should the Glens decide to sell I am sure they aware of the first offer and the group that made it. I don't see the Glens selling anytime soon but you never know. They Glens may decide to sell the vipers and acquire a new team. Anyway it is what it is. GO,VIPERS,GO

Anonymous said...

Most of the players that were traded or “released” are successful in their new places. The entire team has been turned over and the same results! Not that hard to figure out the real problem. Good luck recruiting for next season.

exfan said...

Finally!!! Someone who has some common sense and doesn't support poor ownership

Anonymous said...

It is a simple business to run. The current staff couldn't even let the players know if they had morning skates or practice the next day last year. They would text them in the evening to let them know what was happening the next day!!!

Anonymous said...

Yes we know Bongo. You do not care about anything except that you can go watch a hockey game.

Bingo said...

You Anonymous your right for a change I do just want to go to a affordable hockey game and be entertained and socialize and yes 90 percent don't care as much as you do. But that's ok. GO, VIPERS,GO.

Ben said...

Then why aren’t you running a team if it’s so easy? Because it’s easier to hide behind a keyboard anonymously and criticize?

Anonymous said...

Obviously this is speculation, but I imagine the value of the team took a massive blow with the new NCAA rule. The league itself is likely in a bit of trouble as the very best players have no incentive to go to the BCHL, unfortunately. It might become a B level league (which isn't a bad thing) but I cannot see a potential buyer willing to pay top dollar. Ownership will lose $$ if they sell. Add in the current state of the Vipers and it is not a good place to be. Sad. They let some great young players get away and damaged the foundation of the future.

Fan said...

Give it a rest, geesh . This isn’t professional hockey it’s developmental. Yes it’s been a tough year no denying that. Why not be a fan all the time instead of some of the time and only when playing well and winning games. Everyone wants to see them winning but always being so critical is getting old. Go Vipers Go!

Bert Olmstead said...

"Always being so critical is getting old" ? Most of us were never critical for decades over the way the team was run. Until the current owners took over and the slide began. It isn't getting old, it's a relatively new thing. Suggestion for music at the game: "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it’s developmental hockey. So why trade/release guys you signed without giving them a chance to play and adjust to a new league/team. Seems the “leadership” treats this more as a professional team with the revolving door of players. The issue is that the wrong people are being moved out. 4 months into the season and single digit wins!! Should get new coaches who can handle this level.