Fred Page Cup: (Series Preview)

The Fred Page Cup is set as the Interior Conference Champion Vernon Vipers (42-14-1-3) face off against the Coastal Conference Champion Powell River Kings (39-16-1-4) starting with Games 1 & 2 Friday & Saturday in Powell River. Vernon is looking for their league best 10th BCHL Championship while Powell River is going for their first League Title. Vernon is coming off a first round bye, then knocking off the defending BCHL Fred Page Cup Champion Penticton Vees in Round 2 4 games to 1 outscoring the defending champs 25-10. The Vipers went on to winning the Interior Conference Championship defeating the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in 6 games, outscoring the Backs, 17-8. The Powell River Kings are coming off a first round bye, knocked off the Surrey Eagles in the 2nd Round 4-1 outscoring the Eagles 25-3. The Kings almost blowing a 3-1 series lead before knocking off the Victoria Grizzlies in 7 games, outscoring the RBC Hosts, 27-25.

I think with the new schedule this season, and not seeing all the teams atleast once, its a little harder to pick or judge the other teams from other Divisions. No matter what with Powell Rivers scoring and Vernons strong defence and goaltending, should make for one heck of a final.
Vernon played in Powell River once back on September 24th losing 4-2 This was just the Vipers 7th game of the season and the 2nd game of a five game road trip. It was tied 2-2 in the 3rd before Darcy Oakes gave the Kings the lead midway through the period and then added an empty netter to give the Kings the win. Powell River outshot Vernon 38-19. Andrew Hammond took the loss, while Cha Ketting picked up the win. With only facing one another just once and very early in the season, this will be a hard series to predict.

If you look at both teams rosters from that game there are a lot of new faces on both teams.

Here is the box score from that game,

http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=573402

Lets take a look at whos now gone and whos new since these two teams last played one another.

Vernon Vipers:

Old Faces:

Steve Tresierra
Mark Segal
Ryan DePape
John Digness

New Faces:

Graeme Gordon
Cameron brodie
Mike Leidl
James Kerr
Bryce Kakoske

Powell River Kings:

Old Faces:

Brooks Robinson
Chad Ketting
Chris Walker

New Faces:

Jordan Grant
Darcy Huisman
Taylor Pears
Justin Hogan
Ryne Bodger
Alex McDougall


With not seeing the Kings play this year, its hard to get a good read on the team. I don’t know much about the hockey club other then a few things. The Kings (39-16-1-4) claimed top spot in the Mainland Division with 83 pts and have two of the best if not the best top two lines in the league. Powell River scored a league high 251 goals during the regular season giving up 184 goals. The Kings are lead offensively by Darcy Oakes with 99 pts. A very offensive team with lots of scoring power with the likes of Kyle Bodie (87 pts) Erik Vos (83 pts) and Clay Harvey (79 pts) Powell River will have to try and shutdown the Vipers top line of Sahir Gill, Connor Jones & Kellen Jones, who can cycle the puck down low like no other team. The Vipers are much strong team when they play with the cycle, when getting away from the cycle Vernon is a totally different hockey club. and get traffic and lots of pucks on Andrew Hammond who has been solid for the Vipers in these Playoffs. Specialty teams will play a difference in this series as well. The Powell River PP has been a force of nature this season and the second season has been no different with the extra-man success rate at over 34% (wow). Not to be overlooked is their PK which is 34/39

Heres a look at the Kings regular season scoring leaders.

G A PTS

Darcy Oakes 42 57 99
Kyle Bodie 29 58 87
Erik Vos 39 44 83
Clay Harvey 38 41 79
Chad Niddery 20 30 50
Mat Bodie 1 41 42
Jordan Grant 20 21 41
Jordan Gallea 4 22 26
Ryan Green11 14 25
Kyle Leahy 10 11 21
Reid Campbell 1 20 21
Ben Schmidt 10 9 19
Andrew Pettitt 10 9 19
Darcy Huisman 3 14 17
Neil Chambers 9 4 13
Jason Yee 3 10 13
Ryne Bodger 2 11 13
Mark McKamey 4 6 10
Justin Hogan 0 6 6
Derek Hills 2 3 5
Alex McDougall 0 2 2

GP W L SO GAA SV%

Carsen Chubak 39 28 10 1 2.53 90.66

Taylor Pears 12 3 5 0 3.46 89.71


The Vipers (42-14-1-3) claimed top spot in the Interior Division with 88 pts just two pts back of the BCHL regular season champion Victoria Grizzlies. The Vipers only gave up 145 goals, wich was a leagues best. Vernon can roll four solid lines inwich anyone is capable of putting the puck in the net. Vernon has one if not the strongest defence in the league and can shutdown any teams top line, for example we seen it in the Penticton & Salmon Arm series. The Vipers also have the leagues best goaltender in Andrew Hammond. Hammond was the leagues top goaltender during the regular season with a record of 27-12-1 collecting 5 shutouts. Hammond who was the Vipers MVP had a GAA of 2.30 and a SV% of 91.22 Vernon also had the leagues best goaltending duo with Andrew Hammond & Graeme Gordon. In the 41 games that the Vipers have led going into the third period this season, they have won 38, tied 1, and lost 1 in overtime. Vernon will have to try and shut down the big guns from the Kings top two lines, also try and get to Carsen Chubak who has played well in the Playoffs. Vipers will have to stay out of the penalty bix with the Kings leathal powerplay.

Heres a look at the Vipers regular season scoring leaders.

G A PTS

Connor Jones 19 41 60
Braden Pimm 24 30 54
Kellen Jones 15 37 52
Mike Collins 25 25 50
Chris Crowell 12 31 43
Cory Kane 20 22 42
Sahir Gill 18 21 39
Bryce Kakoske 12 25 37
Rob Short 16 18 34
Kyle Bigos 8 25 33
Ryan Santana 12 13 25
Cameron Brodie 6 18 24
Adam Thompson 7 15 22
Kevin Kraus 1 18 19
Cole Ikkala 8 9 17
Mike Leidl 1 15 16
James Kerr 8 5 13
Steven Weinstein 1 12 13
Cody Ikkala 0 10 10
Kory Roy 2 2 4
Nick Amies 0 2 2

GP W L T SO GAA SV%

Andrew Hammond 43 27 12 1 5 2.30 91.22

Graeme Gordon 23 14 6 0 2 2.92 88.57