Saturday, November 14, 2009

(Game Preview) Trail @ Vernon:




Trail (6-17-1-1) @ Vernon (23-1-0-0)

Last Game Played:

Friday November 13th Vernon Defeated Trail 8-4

Tonight is the fourth meeting of the season between the Trail Smoke Eaters and the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers and the second of back to back games between these two teams. The Vipers are riding a 16 game winning streak heading into tonights game. The Smoke Eaters have dropped three straight games.

Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The Vipers currently sit #1 overall in the league as the BCHL’s best team with a record of 23-1-0-0 five points up on the Penticton Vees who fell 5-4 last night to the Westside Warriors. Vernon has scored 133 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 40. The Vipers have won 16 straight games heading into tonights contest with Trail. Vernon defeated Trail last night at home 8-4 and is now 10-1-0-0 on home ice. The Vipers have four players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (14-24-38), Dylan Walchuk (12-20-32), Braden Pimm (13-19-32) & Jonathan Milhouse (10-19-29). Graeme Gordon & Blake Voth also lead the league as the BCHL’s top two goaltenders. Gordon with a record of 18-1- 1 shutout and a GAA of 1.67 Voth has a record of 5-0 and a GAA of 1.40 Connor & Kellen Jones returned to the lineup last night after returning home from the World Jr A Challenge. Tonight is the second straight meeting with the Smokies after a 8-4 Vernon win last night. Tonight the Vipers need to tighten up defensively after giving Trail way to much time and space last night. The Vipers need to keep their eye on Travis St. Denis, last night was given way too much space out their to create and score chances. Vernon also needs to be a little more physical against a Trail team that was the more physical out of the two teams last night. You may see some bad blood tonight after a few scraps last night, things heated up at times during last nights game and could continue over in tonights contest. Vernon needs to tighten up a bit and play a full 60 minutes something they didn’t do last night.

Players To Watch:

Mike Collins (14-24-38)
Braden Pimm (13-19-32)
Dylan Walchuk (12-20-32)
Jonathan Milhouse (10-19-29)
Connor Jones (13-12-25)
Kellen Jones (5-19-24)
Rob Short (9-14-23)
Cory Kane (10-12-22)
Dan Nycholat (4-13-17)
Kevin Kraus (2-14-16)
Cole Ikkala (6-9-15)
Adam Thompson (2-9-11)
Graeme Gordon (18-1 Record-1 Shutout-1.67 GAA)

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

The Smoke Eaters currently sit in 8th pkace with a record of 6-17-1-1 one point up on the last place Williams Lake Timberwolves. The Smokies have scored 86 goals but have had troubles keeping the puck out of the net, giving up 130 goals. Trail is 3-12-1-0 on the road and 3-7-0-0 in their last 10 games. If Trail can skate with the Vipers like they did in the first two periods last night, they may have a chance at ending the Vipers 16 game winning streak. The Smokies need to get more then just eight shots on goal in a period if they want to win. Trail also cant afford to be giving up 50 shots on goal. The Smoke Eaters need to try and slow down the Vipers and stop the teams skill and depth up front, the Vipers are a smaller less physical team, if Trail can play the body and be the more physical team this may get the Vipers off their game. The Smokies were down just one goal heading into the 3rd but couldn’t compete in the final period, its going to take a full 60 minutes in order to knock off the defending champs. For more info, stats and great coverage on tonights game and the Trail Smoke Eaters, visit Shawns Smoke Eaters Blog, http://smokeeatersblog.blogspot.com/

Players To Watch:

Tye Lewis (12-13-25)
Nick Sandor (12-13-25)
Scott Jacklin (6-18-24)
Sam Mellor (11-12-23)
Travis St. Denis (13-10-23)
Steve Koshey (3-13-16)
Darnell Dyck (8-8-16)
Matt Wilkins (1-10-11)
Wade Bennett (0-10-10)
Paul Mailey (3-7-10)

Heres a look at the season series between these two teams:

September 18th @ Trail: Vernon wins 7-1

Tonight was the first of a home and home series between these two teams in the Smoke Eaters home opener. Newly acquired defenceman Marc-Antoine Chaput, a 17-year old from Quebec, suited up for Trail after arriving in town today. The Vipers exploded for five 1st period goals taking out the Smoke Eaters 7-1 in front of 1029 fans at Cominco Arena. Cory Kane with 3 goals, Jonathan Milhouse, Steven Weinstein, Braden Pimm & Bryce Kakoske scored for Vernon, Mike Collins picked up 2 assists. Travis St. Denis broke Graeme Gordons shutout midway through the 3rd. Gordon made 23 saves for the win, while Devon Murtagh & Garrett Beckwith split the duties between the pipes for Trail, Murtagh took the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712524&link=bchl

After no scoring in the opening period the Vipers were up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Mike Collins * Sawyer Mick scored for Vernon. Tye Lewis scored for Trail. Kevin Kraus, Cole Ikkala & Cory Kane scored for the Vipers in the 3rd giving Vernon the 5-1 victory. Graeme Gordon made 19 saves getting the win. Garrett Beckwith made 35 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712532&link=bchl

Friday November 13th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 8-4

Vernon was up 3-2 after the 1st period on goals from, Cole Ikkala, Braden Pimm & Drew George. Sam Mellor and Travis St. Denis replied for the Smokies. Specialty teams was the difference in the 2nd period as Connor Jones and Dan Nycholat (powerplay) scored for Vernon, while Travis St. Denis scored his 2nd and 3rd goals of the game on the man advantage. The Vipers put the game away in the 3rd after Dan Nycholat (powerplay), Rob Short & Kellen Jones scored for Vernon in a 8-4 victory. The Vipers have now won 16 straight games. Kiefer Smiley made 42 saves in the loss while Graeme Gordon made 17 saves picking up the win. Vernon outshot Trail 50-21

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712708&link=bchl

Here's a look at both team's rosters:

Vernon:

Nils-Erik Soderlund
Mike Collins
Braden Pimm
Cory Kane
Dylan Walchuk
Jonathan Milhouse
Cole Ikkala
Kevin Kraus
Connor Jones
Dan Nycholat
Drew George
Adam Thompson
Sawyer Mick
Steven Weinstein
Kellen Jones
Rob Short
Nick Amies
Bryce Kakoske
Garrett Noonan
Patrick McGillis
Darrin Robak
Blake Voth
Graeme Gordon

Trail:

Tye Lewis
Nick Sandor
Scott Jacklin
Sam Mellor
Travis St. Denis
Steve Koshey
Darnell Dyck
Matt Wilkins
Wade Bennett
Paul Mailey
Ben Matthews
Tommy Rizzardo
Thomas Abenante
Mitch Kaufmann
Sean Nugent
Eric Walker
Justin Brown
Graeme Strukoff
Josh McEwan
Michael Betz
Kiefer Smiley
Garrett Beckwith

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