Nanaimo (15-12-1-8) @ Vernon (32-2-0-2)Last Game Played:
Friday December 18th Vernon defeated Victoria 8-2
Friday December 18th Trail defeated Nanaimo 9-5
Tonight is the first meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Nanaimo Clippers. Vernon comes into tonights game on a one game winning streak. Nanaimo is riding a seven game losing streak.
Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers:
The Vipers currently sit #1 overall in Canada & in the league as the BCHL’s best team with a record of 32-2-0-2 four points up on the 2nd place Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored a league high 190 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 63. The Vipers are 15-2-0-1 on home ice. Vernon has the leagues best road record at 17-0-0-1 Vernon is 7-1-0-2 in their last 10 games. The Vipers have three players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (23-33-56), Connor Jones (23-21-44) & Braden Pimm (15-28-43). Graeme Gordon & Blake Voth also lead the league as the BCHL’s top two goaltenders. Gordon with a record of 23-4 with 1 shutout and a GAA of 1.79 Voth has a record of 9-0 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 1.44
The Vipers need to jump on Nanaimo, a team that made the long bus trip up from Trail last night. A team that also has dropped seven straight games.
Tonight is the final game for the Vipers before the Christmas break.
The Vipers have scored 20 goals in their last four games.
Vernon leads the league with 16 shorthanded goals.
The Vipers need to use their speed, skill and depth and not allow the Clippers a chance to hang around late in the game for a chance to win.
Players To Watch:
Mike Collins (23-31-56)
Connor Jones (23-21-44)
Braden Pimm (15-28-43)
Dylan Walchuk (14-25-39)
Jonathan Milhouse (12-26-38)
Kellen Jones (7-29-36)
Cory Kane (15-17-32)
Bryce Kakoske (10-20-30)
Rob Short (12-17-29)
Dan Nycholat (4-24-28)
Cole Ikkala (12-15-27)
Kevin Kraus (3-16-19)
Curtis Gedig (9-5-14)
Graeme Gordon (23-4 Record-1 Shutout-1.79 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Nanaimo Clippers:
The Clippers currently sit tied in 5th place in the Coastal Conference with a record of 15-12-1-8 six points back of the Victoria Grizzlies. The Clippers have scored 125 goals but have had troubles keeping the puck out of their net giving up 118 goals. Nanaimo is 7-8-0-6 on home ice but is over 500 on the road with a 8-4-1-2 record. Nanaimo is 2-4-0-4 in their last 10 games.
Nanaimo is currently on a seven game road trip and have yet to won with losses in Westside, Penticton & Trail.
The Clippers have lost seven straight games, in those seven games Nanaimo has scored just five goals in a game once, being outscored 33-21.
The Clippers need to get off to a good start and play a full 60 minutes if they want to knock off the Vipers.
Nanaimo needs to be physical with the Vipers, a much smaller team that isn’t very physical themselves.
The Clippers have to watch all four of Vernon’s lines, a team that can score at will racking up 190 goals as the leagues highest scoring team.
You can bet Bill Bestwick will have his team ready to go, wanting to snap this seven game losing streak.
Tyler Mah will be facing his former team. Mah was a late cute three years ago at the Vipers training camp.
Mah was an “AP” with the Vipers playing in just two games with Vernon back in the 2006-07 & 200708 seasons.
Players To Watch:
Cody Bremner (19-18-37)
Luc Olivier Blain (14-23-37)
Teal Burns (13-20-33)
Carson Schell (5-24-29)
Andrew Gladiuk (12-15-27)
Matt Ius (12-15-27)
Joe Perry (7-17-24)
Heres a look at year’s season series between these two teams:
Friday January 16th @ Vernon: Nanaimo wins 4-3 double overtime
The Vipers jumped out to a quick 3-0 1st period lead on goals from, Mike Collins, Rob Short & Kellen Jones. Nanaimo would score four straight to win the game. Matt Betker scored late in the period on the man advantage to get the Clippers on the board. Eric Filiou & Michael Boivin both on the powerplay in the 2nd period tied the game for the Clippers. With no scoring in the 3rd the game was off to overtime. No scoring in the first overtime period, before Nick Chartier scored the ot winner at 1:42 in double overtime giving Nanaimo the huge comeback victory 4-3. Jonathan Jobin gave up two goals on just seven shots and was pulled in favor of Evan Smith who made 27 saves for the win. Graeme Gordon made 27 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=573721&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
Adam Thompson
Sawyer Mick
Steven Weinstein
Kellen Jones
Rob Short
Curtis Gedig
Bryce Kakoske
Garrett Noonan
Patrick McGillis
Darrin Robak
Blake Voth
Graeme Gordon
Nanaimo:
Cody Bremner
Luc Olivier Blain
Teal Burns
Carson Schell
Andrew Gladiuk
Matt Ius
Joe Perry
Victor Newell
Colton Cyr
Kyle Kramer
Brayden Jaw
Nicholas McIntyre
Mike Domsodi
Tyler Mah
Tristan Lowenberger
Kyle Weber
Mike Puddifant
Nick Bell
Todd Gebert
Ty Morton
Zach Martin
Loic Boivin
Rhys Hadfield
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