Vernon (21-1-0-0) @ Merritt (7-13-0-1)Last Game Played:
Sunday October 8th Vernon defeated Williams Lake 6-0
Wednesday November 4th Merritt defeated Westside 4-3
Tonight is the third meeting of the season between the Merritt Cetennials and the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers. This is the second meeting between these two teams in just over a week after Vernon defeated Merritt 10-4 in Merritt back on October 31st. The Vipers are riding a 14 game winning streak heading into the teams final game of a six game road trip. The Centennials have won once in their last five games. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller starting with the pre game at 6:45pm live on 107.5 Kiss FM
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 21-1-0-0 three points up on the Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored 119 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 35. The Vipers have won 14 straight heading into tonights contest with Merritt. This is the final game of six straight on the road for the Vipers. Vernon is undefeated on the road with a record of 12-0 The Vipers have four players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (10-16-26), Dylan Walchuk (12-16-28), Braden Pimm (12-19-31) & Jonathan Milhouse (9-19-28). Graeme Gordon & Blake Voth also lead the league as the BCHL’s top two goaltenders. Gordon with a record of 16-1- 1 shutout and a GAA of 1.58 Voth has a record of 5-0 and a GAA of 1.40 Merritt who has defeated both Westside (twice) and Penticton this season have beat some of the Interiors top teams. Vernon is going to have to try and get lots of pucks and traffic in front of Cole Holowenko or Keith Hamilton. The Vipers will need a full 60 minute effort vs. a hard working Centennials hockey club who has the potential to pull off an upset.
Players To Watch:
Mike Collins (14-22-36)
Braden Pimm (12-19-31)
Jonathan Milhouse (9-19-28)
Dylan Walchuk (12-16-28)
Connor Jones (12-11-23)
Kellen Jones (4-18-22)
Cory Kane (9-11-20)
Rob Short (7-12-19)
Cole Ikkala (6-9-15)
Dan Nycholat (1-11-12)
Kevin Kraus (2-14-16)
Adam Thompson (1-7-8)
Graeme Gordon (16-1 Record-1 Shutout-1.58 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Merritt Centennials:
The Centennials currently sit in 7th place with a record of 7-13-0-1. Merritt has scored just 69 goals this season and has had troubles keeping the puck out of the net giving up a league worst 127. The Cents who are 4-6-0-0 in their last 10 games come into tonights game 7-6 on home ice. The Centennials who are a big physical team need to take advantage of the smaller ice surface and play physical vs. a much smaller Vernon hockey club. Merritt also needs to get a lot of pucks and traffic towards Graeme Gordon or Blake Voth who both lead the league in GAA. The Cents who gave the Vipers a pretty big scare a few weekends back, falling in Overtime need to play a full 60 minutes if they want to knock off the defending RBC Cup champs. Merritt will have their hands full with one of the leagues top scoring teams. The Cents are going to have to get solid goaltending from who ever gets the start tonight, the Vipers can score in bunches so goaltending will be key. Defenceman, Steve Tresierra and Cents assistant coach, Luke Pierce will once again face their former team. Jeff Jones & David Sabey who both were cut by the Vipers during training camp-pre season will want to play well against Vernon to prove Mark Ferner wrong. For stats, info and more news and notes on the Merritt Centennials, visit Brian Wiebe’s Merritt Centennials Blog, http://merrittcentennials.blogspot.com/
The Cents are 7-31-0-2 in the last six seasons against Vernon
The Centennials are on a 16 game winless skid (0-15-0-1) against the Vipers.
The last time Merritt defeated Vernon was on January 14, 2007 by a final score of 3-2Wade MacLeod scored the winner while Casey Fratkin and Tyler Halliday also scored for the Centennials. Nick Stermer, Mike Naito, Nick Kang, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Jason Wright and Cody Butcher each had an assist in the win. Brad McInnis made 45 saves in goal for the Cents.
Players To Watch:
Dustin Johnson (13-6-19)
Andrew Pickering (4-15-19)
Colton Sobchak (4-12-16)
Alex Valenti (8-7-15)
Jeff Jones (6-9-15)
Jordan Soquila (7-7-14)
Derek Hills (6-8-14)
David Sabey (6-4-10)
Ryne Bodger (3-9-12)
Steve Tresierra (0-9-9)
Cole Holowenko (2-5 record with a GAA of 5.69)
Heres a look at the season series between these two teams:
Wednesday, October 21st @ Vernon: Vernon wins 7-2
Merritt held a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd period but couldn’t hold on for the win, as Vernon exploded for six goals in the final 30 minutes. Connor Jones (2), Kellen Jones, Jonathan Milhouse, Rob Short, Steven Weinstein, & Bryce Kakoske scored for the Vipers. Derek Hills & Dustin Johnson scored for the Centennials. Graeme Gordon made 14 saves for the win. Cole Holowencko made 40 saves in the loss. Vernon outshot Merritt 47-16.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712631&link=bchl
Friday, October 30th @ Merritt: Vernon wins 10-4
Dylan Walchuk & Cole Ikkala with two goals each put Vernon up 4-0 after the 1st period. Cory kane & Dustin Johnson scored in the 2nd as the Vipers were up 5-1 after 40 minutes of play. Vernon would score five goals in the 3rd (Mike Collins with two, Rob Short, Darrin Robak & Nick Amies) to blow the game wide open. Rob Short, Jonathan Milhouse, Cole Ikkala, Cory Kane & Dylan Walchuk all had three point nights. Mike Collins lead the way with four points. Vernon outshot Merritt 39-31 Blake Voth made 27 saves getting the win, while Cameron Dagg made 29 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712655&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
Merritt:
Dustin Johnson
Andrew Pickering
Colton Sobchak
Alex Valenti
Jeff Jones
Jordan Soquila
Derek Hills
Ryne Bodger
David Sabey
Steve Tresierra
Matt Mazzarolo
Jeff Zmurchyk
Silvan Harper
Stephen Wall
Mitch Jones
Kevin Philp
Joey McEwan
Daniel Chang
Alexander MacMillan
Kameran Crawford
Austin Baecker
Cole Holowenko
Keith Hamilton
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