Game Preview: BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals: Powell River (12-5) @ Vernon (9-4)Last game played:
Friday April 2nd Vernon defated Powell River 2-1
The defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Powell River Kings meet in Game 2 tonight after the Vipers defeated the Kings 2-1 in Game 1 last night. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 6:45pm
Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers: (9-4)
The Vipers clinched top spot in the BCHL and the Interior Division with a record of 51-6-0-3 and was ranked #2 in all of Canada. Vernon scored a league high 298 goals and broke the Penticton Vees BCHL record for least amount of goals, giving up just 119. Vernon was 25-4-0-1 at home & 26-2-0-2 on the road during the regular season. The Vipers are 9-0-0-1 in their last 10 games. The Vipers had three players in the leagues top 20 in regular season scoring. Connor Jones (36-45-81), Mike Collins (30-46-76) & Braden Pimm (25-43-68). Blake Voth lead the league as the BCHL’s top goaltender. Voth has a record of 21-2 with 3 shutouts and broke the BCHL record with the lowest GAA with 1.79 Graeme Gordon was 3rd in the leagues top 10 goaltenders with a record of 30-7 with 2 shutouts and a GAA of 2.06
For just the second time in franchise history, the Vipers have clinched more than 50 wins in a regular season. The Vipers hit the 51-win mark this season one shy of the team and league record. The Vipers won 52 games in the 1998-99 campaign, which they followed up with a national Junior A title. The 51-6-0-3 Vipers also set a new BCHL record for the fewest goals allowed (119). The previous record of 137 was set by the Penticton Vees in 2005-06. Goaltender Blake Voth etched his name into the BCHL annals, setting a record 1.79 goals against average. The rookie tender bettered Nanaimo Clipper net detective Simon Nolet’s 1.98 GAA in 2004-05. Vernon at one time during the regular season went on a 21 game winning streak, one shy of the teams record before falling in overtime to Westside. This years version of the Vernon Vipers has to be one of if not the best Vernon Junior Hockey team Viper fans have ever seen.
1st Round: First Round Bye
2nd Round: Defeated Quesnel in six games
Interior Conference Finals: Defeated Penticton in six games
Home Playoff Record: 5-2
Road Playoff Record: 4-2
The Vipers come up with a big 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the Fred Page Cup Finals. You can bet Mark Ferner and the coaching staff would like the Vipers to play a little better defensively and play the body. The Vipers are a much better hockey team when playing physical. Two teams that are very evenly matched will meet again tonight in Game 2. Once again the Vipers will have to get lots of pucks and traffic towards Josh Watson. Vernon had the better of the scoring chances in Game 1 but didn’t carry the play as much as Powell River. Vernon needs to watch guys like Chad Niddery, Daniel Carr, Andrew Pettitt & Matt Garbowsky. These kids are always dangerous when with the puck. The Vipers will be looking at taking a 2-0 series before heading back to Powell River for Games 3 & 4 Monday & Tuesday.
Key Players To Watch:
Kellen Jones (5-9-14)
Connor Jones (6-6-12)
Sahir Gill (4-6-10)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-6-9)
Mike Collins (2-7-9)
Braden Pimm (3-5-8)
Dan Nycholat (3-4-7)
Adam Thompson (3-3-6)
Graeme Gordon (8-3 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.45 GAA)
Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:
Kellen Jones (5-9-14)
Connor Jones (6-6-12)
Sahir Gill (4-6-10)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-6-9)
Mike Collins (2-7-9)
Braden Pimm (3-5-8)
Cory Kane (1-6-7)
Dan Nycholat (3-4-7)
Adam Thompson (3-3-6)
David Robinson (1-5-6)
Garrett Noonan (2-3-5)
Steven Weinstein (0-5-5)
Bryce Kakoske (2-3-5)
Kevin Kraus (0-5-5)
Curtis Gedig (1-4-5)
Dylan Walchuk (1-2-3)
Patrick McGillis (0-0-0)
Darrin Robak (0-0-0)
Blake Voth (1-1 Record, 3.56 GAA)
Graeme Gordon (8-3 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.45 GAA)
Lets take a look at the Powell River Kings: (12-5)
The Kings finished the regular season in 2nd place in the Coastal Conference with a record of 36-17-1-6 The Kings scored 216 goals and gave up 160 goals. Powell River was 23-4-0-3 on home ice & 13-13-1-3 on the road during the regular season. The Vees are 3-0 at home & 1-2 on the road during these Playoffs. Penticton finished the regular season at 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 games. Josh Watson finished in the leagues top 10 goaltenders. Watson finished with a 21-12-1 record with two shutouts and a GAA of 2.27
1st Round: Defeated Cowichan Valley in five games
2nd Round: Defeated Langley in four games
Coastal Conference Finals: Defeated Alberni Valley in seven games
Home Playoff Record: 6-2
Road Playoff Record: 6-3
Kent Lewis and the Kings coaching staff have to be pretty happy with the hockey clubs effort last night coming oh so close to tying the game late in the final few minutes. In the end a few huge saves from Graeme Gordon and Powell River falls 2-1 in the opening game of the series. I think the Kings would like to try and generate a little more offence in Game 2, the Kings didn’t get a whole heck of a lot of good quality scoring chances, tonight you may see the Kings get more pucks to the net and have more guys driving hard towards the goal. The Kings who come out playing physical in the 1st period, didn’t lay the body much in the final two periods, Powell River needs to stay physical against Vernon and try and wear down the Vipers speedy forwards. The Kings will have to try and limit Vernon’s scoring chances and contain the speed & skill of the Vipers. Getting the games first goal is always key. Powell River will be looking for the split tonight, they wont want to be heading home down 2-0 in the series.
Key Players To Watch:
Matt Garbowsky (11-13-24)
Daniel Carr (13-11-24)
Mat Bodie (6-16-22)
Jordan Grant (6-9-15)
Mitch Labreche (4-9-13)
Chad Niddery (7-6-13)
Darcy Huisman (0-8-8)
Reid Campbell (1-7-8)
Cody Rainaldi (3-4-7)
Ben Schmidt (2-3-5)
Josh Watson (12-5 Record, 3 Shutouts- 1.95 GAA)
Powell River Kings Playoff Scoring:
Matt Garbowsky (11-13-24)
Daniel Carr (13-11-24)
Mat Bodie (6-16-22)
Jordan Grant (6-9-15)
Mitch Labreche (4-9-13)
Chad Niddery (7-6-13)
Darcy Huisman (0-8-8)
Reid Campbell (1-7-8)
Justin Dasilva (1-6-7)
Teagan Waugh (3-4-7)
Cody Rainaldi (3-4-7)
Ben Schmidt (2-3-5)
Brenden Forbes (2-3-5)
Andrew Pettitt (0-3-3)
Jason Yee (0-3-3)
Robbie Bailey (0-1-1)
Brandon Formosa (0-1-1)
Klay Kachur (0-1-1)
Braden Pears
Alex McDougall
Carter Shinkaruk
Josh Watson (12-5 Record, 3 Shutouts- 1.95 GAA)
Michael Garteig (0-0 Record)
Heres a look at the series:
Friday, April 2nd @ Vernon: Vernon wins 2-1
Kellen Jones at 12:49 on the powerplay opened the scoring for Vernon as the Vipers took a 1-0 lead heading into the 2nd period. No scoring in the 2nd before Connor Jones gave the Vipers a 2-0 lead at 14:19 of the 3rd. Teagan Waugh at 16:01 got the Kings on the board, but it wasn’t enough as the Vipers hung on to take Game 1 2-1. Powell River outshot Vernon 30-29. Graeme Gordon made 29 saves for the win, while Josh Watson made 27 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812878&link=bchl
Here's a look at the Vipers-Kings Fred Page Cup Schedule:
#1 Vernon Vipers vs #5 Powell River Kings
2010 Fred Page Cup Finals Schedule:
Game #1 - Powell River at Vernon, Friday, April 2nd, 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game #2 - Powell River at Vernon, Saturday, April 3rd, 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game #3 - Vernon at Powell River, Monday, April 5th, 7:00 PM, Powell River Recreation Centre (Hap Parker Arena)
Game #4 - Vernon at Powell River, Tuesday, April 6th, 7:00 PM, Powell River Recreation Centre (Hap Parker Arena)
Game #5 - Powell River at Vernon, Thursday, April 8th, 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
Game #6 - Vernon at Powell River, Saturday, April 10th, 7:30 PM, Powell River Recreation Centre (Hap Parker Arena)
Game #7 - Powell River at Vernon, Monday, April 12th, 7:00 PM, Wesbild Centre
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