(Game Preview) Vernon @ Westside:

Vernon (35-4-0-2) @ Westside (29-12-1-1)

Last Game Played:

Tuesday January 5th Vernon defeated Merritt 5-0
Sunday January 3rd Westside defeated Merritt 5-2

Tonight is just the 3rd meeting of the season between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Warriors. Vernon comes into tonights game on a one game winning streak. Westside is riding a one game Winning 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 35-4-0-2 three points up on the 2nd place Penticton Vees. Vernon has scored a league high 207 goals and given up the least amount of goals with just 74. Vernon is 18-1-0-1 on the road & 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games. The Vipers have four players in the leagues top 20 in scoring. Mike Collins (23-36-59), Connor Jones (24-26-50), Braden Pimm (19-29-48) & Jonathan Milhouse (18-28-46). 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 10-0 with 3 shutouts and a GAA of 1.28

The Vipers need to come ready to play a full 60 minutes tonight facing a very strong Westside Warriors team.

Vernon is going to have to get lots of pucks and traffic towards Kevin Jebson who is very solid between the pipes for the Warriors. The Vipers need to get Jebson moving side to side in order to beat the veteran goaltender.

Bryce Kakose is facing his former team.

With the BCHL trade deadline just days away the Vipers need to focus on tonights game and not any player movement that could happen.

Vernon needs to stick to their game plan and stay away from any after the whiste altercations with superpests Trevor Bailey & Joel Woznikoski.

Players To Watch:

Mike Collins (23-36-59)
Connor Jones (24-26-50)
Braden Pimm (19-29-48)
Jonathan Milhouse (18-28-46)
Dylan Walchuk (14-25-39)
Cory Kane (17-21-38)
Kellen Jones (7-29-36)
Bryce Kakoske (11-23-34)
Rob Short (12-18-30)
Dan Nycholat (4-26-30)
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)
Blake Voth (10-0 Record-3 Shutouts-1.28 GAA)

Let’s take a look at the Westside Warriors:

The Warriors currently sit in 3rd place with a record of 29-12-1-1 The Warriors have scored 183 goals & giving up 125 goals. Westside is 13-5-0-1 on home ice. Westside is 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 games. The Warriors have three players in the leagues top 20 in league scoring. Trevor Bailey (34-31-65), Cam Reid (19-35-54) & Brendan Ellis (14-34-48) Kevin Jebson is 9th in the leagues top 10 in leagues top goaltenders with a 27-10-1 record, 3 shutouts & a 2.70 GAA

Westside has played Vernon very tough this season, as both games have ended in one goal games.

The Warriors need to watch Vernons speed and skill, specialty teams will be the difference tonight.

Kevin Jebson carries this team on his back, if Jebson plays well, so do the Warriors.
Westside needs to jump on the Vipers early and shutdown the highest scoring team in the league.

Players To Watch:

Trevor Bailey (34-31-65)
Cam Reid (19-35-54)
Brendan Ellis (14-34-48)
Kyle Singleton (21-14-35)
Cole Wilson (12-23-35)
Alex Grieve (15-17-32)
Grayson Downing (14-14-28)
Tyler Krause (12-13-25)
Kevin Jebson (27-10-1 record-3 shutouts-2.70 GAA)


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

Friday, October 2nd @ Westside: Vernon wins 4-3

Both teams took turns taking the lead. Braden Pimm opened the scoring before Trevor Bailey tied the game late in the 1st. Cam Reid put the Warriors ahead early into the 2nd before Steve Weinstein tied the the game on the powerplay. With the game tied 2-2 heading into the 3rd period Cam Reid on the powerplay put Westside up 3-2 just 30 seconds into the final period. With Vernon having the better of the play for most of the period, Kellen Jones tied the game at 16:12 and then Mike Collins scored the game winner at 19:58 giving Vernon the 4-3 victory. Graeme Gordon made just 16 saves for the win, Kevin Jebson made 52 saves taking the loss. The Vipers outshot the Warriors 52-19.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712569

Friday, November 27th @ Vernon: Westside wins 2-1 Overtime

It was scoreless after the first period, Connor Jones on the powerplay at 17:49 put Vernon up 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. Colton Sissons tied the game at 9:45 sending the game to overtime. Kyle Singleton at 1:42 puts an end to the Vipers 21 game winning streak, as Vernon was one win away from tying their own club record of 22 wins in a row set back in the 1998-99 season. Kevin Jebson made 35 saves for the win, while Graeme Gordon made 28 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712755&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
David Robinson
Garrett Noonan
Patrick McGillis
Darrin Robak
Blake Voth
Graeme Gordon

Westside:

Trevor Bailey
Cam Reid
Brendan Ellis
Kyle Singleton
Cole Wilson
Alex Grieve
Grayson Downing
Tyler Krause
Quinn Gould
Joel Woznikoski
Max French
Colton Sissons
Tyler Brickler
Spencer Humphries
Dru Morrison
Matthew Maher
Patrick Bartoshyk
Michael Quinn
Izaak Berglund
Jason Nash
Peter MacIntosh
Kevin Jebson
Cam Gorchynski