Merritt (16-24-0-2) @ Vernon (34-4-0-2)Last Game Played:
Saturday January 2nd Salmon Arm defeated Vernon 3-1
Sunday January 3rd Westside defeated Merritt 5-2
Tonight is the 5th meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Merritt Centennials. Vernon comes into tonights game on a two game losing streak. Merritt is riding a one 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 34-4-0-2 two points up on the 2nd place Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored a league high 202 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 74. Vernon is 16-3-0-1 on home ice & 6-3-0-2 in their last 10 games. Vernon has lost back to back games for the first time all year after dropping a home and home series with Salmon Arm. The Vipers have three players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (23-33-56), Connor Jones (24-26-50) & Jonathan Milhouse (17-28-45). Graeme Gordon & Blake Voth also lead the league as the BCHL’s top two goaltenders. Gordon with a record of 25-6 with 1 shutout and a GAA of 1.94 Voth has a record of 9-0 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 1.44
The Vipers are coming off back to back losses, their first back to back losses of the season. Rumor around town is the team is battling the flu.
The Vipers need a much better performance and effort in tonights game, the Vipers will need to play a full 60 minutes in order to knock off a Centennials team that has been playing its best hockey of the season.
Kellen Jones is still out of the lineup with a broken jaw. Connor Jones was out of the lineup on Saturday with the flu. No word on if Connor will be in the lineup tonight.
Former Chilliwack Bruins forward, David Robinson signed with Vernon yesterday and is rumored to be making his 2nd debut for the Vipers tonight.
Vernon needs to get off to a good start, the last two games the Vipers have fallen behind 2-0 in the first five minutes.
Graeme Gordon is a former Merritt Centennial.
Players To Watch:
Mike Collins (23-31-56)
Connor Jones (24-26-50)
Braden Pimm (16-29-45)
Jonathan Milhouse (17-28-45)
Dylan Walchuk (14-25-39)
Cory Kane (17-20-37)
Kellen Jones (7-29-36)
Bryce Kakoske (10-21-31)
Rob Short (12-18-30)
Dan Nycholat (4-25-29)
Cole Ikkala (12-15-27)
Kevin Kraus (3-16-19)
Curtis Gedig (9-6-15)
Graeme Gordon (25-6 Record-1 Shutout-1.94 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Merritt Centennials:
The Centennials currently sit in 5th place with a record of 16-24-0-2 The Cents have scored 147 goals but have had troubles keeping the puck out of their net giving up 223 goals. Merritt is 3-16-0-2 on the road. Merritt is 6-3-0-1 in their last 10 games. For more info and stats on the Merritt Centennials and tonights game, visit Brian Wiebe’s Merritt Centennials Blog, http://merrittcentennials.blogspot.com/
The Cents are 7-33-0-2 in the last six seasons against Vernon
The Centennials are on a 18 game winless skid (0-16-0-1) 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.
Merritt will have to get lots of pucks towards either Graeme Gordon or Blake Voth, and try and get traffic in front of the leagues top two goaltenders.
Merritt needs to play physical against a much smaller Vipers team.
Former Merritt Centennial & Vernon Vipers forward, Luke Peirce has Merritt playing its best hockey of the season and fighting for a playoff spot. The Cents will give Vernon all they have.
Players To Watch:
Dustin Johnson (26-14-40)
Jordan Soquila (15-25-40)
Derek Hills (15-22-37)
Colton Sobchak (13-23-36)
Andrew Pickering (9-24-33)
Jeff Jones (15-15-30)
Mitch Jones (2-18-20)
Steve Tresierra (3-16-29)
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
Tuesday, November 10th @ Merritt: Vernon wins 6-1
Silvan Harper put the Centennials on the scoreboard at 16:48 of the 1st period. This was all the scoring the Cents would get as Vernon would score six straight goals going on to the 6-1 victory. Dan Nycholat, Patrick McGillis with two, Cory Kane, Adam Thompson, & Rob Short scored for the Vipers. Cole Holowenko made 37 saves in the loss, while Graeme Gordon made 28 saves picking up the win. Vernon outshot Merritt 43-29.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712694
Tuesday, December 8th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 7-1
Dustin Johnson scores 1:08 into the opening period, but this was all the goals the Cents would muster as Vernon would score the next seven straight. Connor Jones, Adam Thompson & Mike Collins on the powerplay gave the Vipers a 3-1 lead after the 1st period. With no scoring in the 2nd period, Cole Ikkala with two, Bryce Kakoske, & Cory Kane rounded out the Viper scoring giving them a huge 7-1 victory. Blake Voth made 22 saves getting the win, while Keith Hamilton gave up five goals on 20 shots before Cole Holowenko finished the game giving up two goals on just seven shots. Vernon outshot Merritt 27-23.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712787
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
David Robinson
Garrett Noonan
Patrick McGillis
Darrin Robak
Blake Voth
Graeme Gordon
Merritt:
Dustin Johnson
Jordan Soquila
Derek Hills
Colton Sobchak
Andrew Pickering
Jeff Jones
Mitch Jones
Steve Tresierra
Alex Valenti
David Sabey
Jeff Zmurchyk
Alexander MacMillan
Stephen Wall
Matt Mazzarolo
Silvan Harper
Ryne Bodger
Daniel Chang
Kameran Crawford
Austin Baecker
Keith Hamilton
Cole Holowenko
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