Saturday, December 12, 2009

(Game Preview) Vernon @ Penticton:




Vernon (31-2-0-1) @ Penticton (27-5-0-2)

Last Game Played:

Friday December 11th Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 3-2
Friday December 11th Penticton defeated Westside 4-3

Tonight is the fourth meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Penticton Vees. Vernon makes its second visit to the South Okanagan Events Centre this year. The Vipers are riding a three game winning streak, while the Vees are riding a single game winning streak. You can listen to tonight’s game live with Todd Miller starting with the pre game at 6:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM

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 31-2-0-1 seven points up on the Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored a league high 180 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 58. The Vipers defeated Salmon Arm last night 3-2 improving to 14-2-0-1 on home ice. Tonight Vernon brings the leagues best road record 17-0-0-0 into Penticton with a chance at breaking the BCHL record for most consecutive road wins in a row with 18 set by the 1989-90 New Westminster Royals. Vernon is 8-1-0-1 in their last 10 games. The Vipers have four players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (23-30-53), Braden Pimm (15-28-43), Dylan Walchuk (13-25-38), & Connor Jones (22-17-39). Graeme Gordon & Blake Voth also lead the league as the BCHL’s top two goaltenders. Gordon with a record of 22-3 with 1 shutout and a GAA of 1.74 Voth has a record of 9-0 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 1.44

The Vipers come into tonight’s game with a 1-2 record against the Vees this season. Penticton has outscored Vernon in the three games 7-3.

Vernon has just three losses this year, two of those losses are to the Penticton Vees.

Sean Bonar has played very well against Vernon this season, so the Vipers need to get lots of traffic and pucks towards the veteran goaltender. The Vipers need to drive to the net and get bodies in and around Bonar.

Specialty teams will be a huge part of tonights game, Vernon needs to try and stay out of the penalty box and make Penticton pay on the powerplay.

The Vipers have to watch Vees Captain, Denver Manderson. Manderson always seems to play well against Vernon. The leagues 2nd leading scorer (24-48-72) is always dangerous in and around the net, and can change a hockey game with just one shot.

Vernon is going to have to battle and work extra hard if they want to knock off the Vees tonight.

After falling to the Vees last weekend on home ice 4-1 with a poor effort, Vernon will be looking for revenge tonight and a chance to move nine points up on Penticton for the race for first place in the Interior Division.

Vernon is 0-13 on the powerplay against the Vees in all three games this year.

Tonight should be a very entertaining and exciting hockey as the leagues top two teams meetup.

Players To Watch:

Mike Collins (23-30-53)
Braden Pimm (15-28-43)
Dylan Walchuk (13-25-38)
Kellen Jones (7-29-36)
Connor Jones (22-17-39)
Jonathan Milhouse (9-24-33)
Cory Kane (13-17-30)
Rob Short (12-17-29)
Dan Nycholat (4-20-24)
Cole Ikkala (12-13-25)
Bryce Kakoske (10-18-28)
Kevin Kraus (3-16-19)
Curtis Gedig (6-5-11)
Graeme Gordon (22-3 Record-1 Shutout-1.74 GAA)

Let’s take a look at the Penticton Vees:

The Vees currently sit in 2nd place in the Interior Division with a record of 27-5-0-2 seven points back of the league leading Vernon Vipers. The Vees have scored 157 goals and given up 78 goals. Penticton is 13-1-0-1 on home ice & 14-4-0-1 on the road. Penticton is 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games. Vees Captain Denver Manderson is the leagues 2nd leading scorer with (24-48-72) Sean Bonar is 6th in the league in goaltenders with a 14-4 record. Bonar has two shutouts and a GAA of 2.53 For more info, stats and great game coverage check out Ryan Pinders Penticton Vees blog, http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/

Penticton comes into tonights game very strong on home ice with a record of 13-1-0-1 one of those losses was to the Vernon Vipers who knocked off the Vees 2-1 in overtime in their only visit to the South Okanagan Events Centre.

The Vees come into tonights game with some confidence after knocking off the Vipers 4-1 just last weekend up in Vernon.

The Vees need to get lots of traffic and pucks towards Graeme Gordon who will be wanting to rebound after falling to the Vees last Friday night.

Penticton needs to watch Connor Jones ((22-17-39) Jones and his brother Kellen who is out of the Vipers lineup with a broken jaw, always seem to play well against the Vees year after year.

Penticton is coming off a huge 4-3 come from behind victory last in Westside, beating a Warriors team who has been playing its best hockey of the season. You know the Vees will be up and ready for tonights matchup with the Vipers.

In the three games between these two teams this season, Penticton is 2-12 with the man advantage.

Vees Captain Denver Manderson hs two goals and two assists in three games vs. Vernon.

Alex Szczechura & Joey Holka each have three points against the Vipers this season.

Players To Watch:

Denver Manderson (24-48-72)
Beau Bennett (22-33-55)
Alex Szczechura (15-20-35)
Garrett Milan (18-14-32)
Joey Laleggia (4-25-29)
Joey Holka (16-13-29)
Matt Paltridge (8-15-23)
Ryan Viselli (7-14-21)
Eric Filiou (9-12-21)

Logan Johnston (8-11-19)
Jake Johnson (6-11-17)
Sean Bonar (14-4 Record-2 Shutouts-2.53 GAA)

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

October 3rd @ Vernon: Penticton wins 2-0

Vernon outshot Penticton 34-15 but lost their first game of the season 2-0 after Denver Manderson (shorthanded) & Joey Holka scored for the Vees. The Vipers had many chances but couldn’t beat Sean Bonar who played very well making 34 saves for the shutout. Graeme Gordon made 13 saves in the loss. Penticton ended Vernon’s 22 game winning streak (going back to Game six of last years BCHL Finals)

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712575&link=bchl

Friday October 9th @ Penticton: Vernon wins 2-1 Overtime

Mike Collins 2nd period goal looked like the game winner before Alex Szczechura tied the game late in the 3rd at 15:11 sending the game to overtime. Dylan Walchuk setup Rob Short at 2:30 of the extra period giving the Vipers the 2-1 OT victory. Graeme Gordon made 24 saves for the win, while Sean Bonar made 25 saves taking the loss. Vernon outshot Penticton 27-25.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712589

Friday, December 4th @ Vernon: Penticton wins 4-1

Alex Szczechura & Denver Manderson seconds apart put Penticton up 2-0 early in the 1st period before Bryce Kakoske with a late goal cut the lead to 2-1. Specialty teams took over in the 2nd period as Garrett Milan & Joey Holka scored on the powerplay giving the Vees a 4-1 lead heading into the 3rd. No scoring in the final period as Penticton defeated the Vipers 4-1 outshooting Vernon 36-25. Sean Bonar made 25 saves for the win, while Graeme Gordon made 32 saves taking the loss. Denver Manderson collected three points.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712772

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

Penticton:

Denver Manderson
Beau Bennett
Alex Szczechura
Garrett Milan
Joey Laleggia
Joey Holka
Ryan Viselli
Eric Filiou
Matt Paltridge
Logan Johnston
Jake Johnson
Isaac Macleod
Ben Sexton
Luke Curadi
Derik Johnson
Taylor Peters
Byron Sorensen
Stefan Nicholishen
Joel Rumpel
Sean Bonar

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