Vernon (11-1-0-0) @ Quesnel (3-7-0-2)Last Game Played:
Sunday October 11th Vernon defeated Alberni Valley 4-1
Saturday October 10th Surrey defeated Quesnel 2-1
Tonight is the second meeting of the season between the Vernon Vipers & Quesnel Millionaires. This is the first of a three game Northern road trip for Vernon playing in Quesnel (3-7-0-2), Williams Lake (2-8-0-0) & Prince George (5-7-0-1) This is the first of three straight for the Quesnel Millionaires all on home ice. Vernon (11-1-0-0), Langley (7-5-0-0) & Powell River (10-3-0-1) You can listen to tonights game with Todd Miller, live on 107.5 Kiss Fm starting with the pre-game at 6:45pm
Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers:
The Vipers currently sit in 2nd place in the Interior Division with a record of 11-1-0-0 one point back of the league leading Penticton Vees (11-2-0-1) Vernon has two games in hand, tonight being one of them. Vernon is heading into Quesnel riding a four game winning streak after wins over Burnaby, Penticton, Cowichan Valley & Alberni Valley. The Vipers have scored 54 goals, giving up just 17. Vernon heads out on this three game Northern road trip with a 4-0 record on the road. Exploding for 14 goals vs. Cowichan over the weekend, the Vipers now have three players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. (Mike Collins 9-11-20), (Braden Pimm 3-13-16) & (Dylan Walchuk 4-11-15) Graeme Gordon also leads the league in the leagues top goaltending department with a record of 9-1, 1 shutout and a GAA of 1.59 This is the Vipers biggest road trip of the season to date, on paper it looks like Vernon should come home with three wins, but we all know the game isn’t played on paper. The Vipers are playing three teams that are under 500 but this dosnt mean either one of these three teams is going to sit back and let the Vipers go home with the victory. Remember everyone wants to try and knock off the defending National Champs. Vernon defeated Quesnel 2-0 back on September 25th in their first meeting of the season. The Vipers will have to try and get lots of pucks and traffic towards Kirby Halcrow who made 35 saves vs. Vernon in late September. The Vipers need to take advantage of one of the weaker teams, and not allow them to be in tonights game for a chance to win.
Players To Watch:
Mike Collins (9-11-20)
Braden Pimm (3-13-16)
Dylan Walchuk (4-11-15)
Jonathan Milhouse (6-8-14)
Connor Jones (6-7-13)
Kellen Jones (2-10-12)
Cole Ikkala (4-6-10)
Cory Kane (5-4-9)
Dan Nycholat (0-8-8)
Kevin Kraus (1-5-6)
Adam Thompson (1-5-6)
Rob Short (4-2-6)
Graeme Gordon (9-1 Record-1 Shutout-1.59 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Quesnel Millionaires:
The Millionaires currently sit in 6th place with a record of 3-7-0-2 three points back of the Prince George Spruce Kings. Quesnel is coming home after being on the road for three straight, losing all three. The Mills have scored just 32 goals and given up 35. Quesnel is 2-3-0-1 on home ice and have no players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. The Mills have just three players in double digits, Taylor Holst (5-7-12), Trevor Hertz (6-4-10) & Darick-Ste-Marie (3-7-10) Quesnel has a huge task ahead of them for tonight, that is try and be just the second team to knock of the defending Royal Bank Cup Champions. The Mills will have their work cut out for them for sure. Quesnel is going t have to try and jump on the Vipers who will have made the long bus trip up North, take advantage of the smaller rink, something the Vipers wont be use too, playing on the bigger ice surface. The Mills will have to try and do their best at getting in on the offensive attack, and get lots of traffic and pucks on Graeme Gordon, the leagues best goaltender. Quesnel will also have to try and stop one of the leagues top scoring teams. The Vipers have four lines that can score and compete. The Millionaires will have to try and shutdown the Vipers top two lines. The Mills will have to depend on Kirby Halcrow hoping he can come up big between the pipes and try and steal one for the Mills. Former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Eliot Raibl will play his former team again for a second time this season. Raibl played with Vernon back in the 2007-08 season before being traded to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Chris Kerr the younger brother of former Vernon Vipers forward, James Kerr plays for the Mills. Chris tried out for the Vipers this year but was cut during the exibition season. James will get another shot at trying to prove Mark Ferner and the Vipers made the wrong choice in cutting the rookie forward. Kerr was a healthy scratch in the Mills visit to Vernon back in September.
Players To Watch:
Taylor Holst (5-7-12)
Trevor Hertz (6-4-10)
Darick-Ste-Marie (3-7-10)
Eliot Raibl (1-7-8)
Tyler French (2-4-6)
Kirby Halcrow (3-8 record 2.96 GAA)
Heres a look at the season series between these two teams:
Friday, September 25th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 2-0
Friday, September 25th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 2-0
Drew George scored the game winner at 5:02 of the 1st period. Dylan Walchuk and Kevin Kraus collected the assists. Cory Kane sealed the victory with a goal at 1:45 of the 3rd period Connor Jones and Dan Nycholat picked up the assists. Vernon outshot Quesnel 37-29. Graeme Gordon picked up his first shutout of the season making 29 saves. Kirby Halcrow took the loss making 35 saves.
Here's a look at both team's rosters:
Vernon:
Quesnel:
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