Game Preview: Vernon (9-5) @ Powell River (13-5)Last game played:
Game 2: Saturday April 3rd Powell River defeated Vernon 3-1
The defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Powell River Kings meet in Game 3 tonight after the Kings defeated the Vipers 3-1 in Game 2. 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: (9-5)
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: 5-3
Road Playoff Record: 4-2
The Vipers now head into Powell River with the series tied 1-1. Mark Ferner will be looking for some much needed goal scoring from other players then the Jones Twins. The Vipers will somehow have to try and solve the defensive trap the Kings played oh so well against the Vipers on Saturday night. Vernon needs to try and figure out a way at getting bodies and pucks towards Josh Watson, getting guys in the grey area’s and trying to break through the Powell River defence. A very tight checking series with very low scoring, means Graeme Gordon will have to once again be at the top of his game. The Vipers need to get off to a good start, try and score the all important first goal of the game, as well as play physical. Vernon hasn’t played all that physical in this series, the Vipers are a much stronger team when playing the body and need to try and wear the Kings down. The Vipers must get some secondary scoring from someone other then Connor or Kellen Jones, Vernon cant depend on these two to do all the scoring. Will the long travel have any effect on the Vipers?
Key Players To Watch:
Kellen Jones (5-9-14)
Connor Jones (6-7-13)
Sahir Gill (4-6-10)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-6-9)
Braden Pimm (3-5-8)
Dan Nycholat (3-5-8)
Adam Thompson (3-3-6)
Graeme Gordon (8-4 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.57 GAA)
Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:
Kellen Jones (5-9-14)
Connor Jones (7-6-13)
Sahir Gill (4-7-11)
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 (3-5-8)
Cory Kane (1-6-7)
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 (8-4 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.57 GAA)
Lets take a look at the Powell River Kings: (13-5)
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: 7-3
Powell River comes home for Games 3 & 4 after getting the split in Games 1 & 2 in Vernon. The Kings who are very evenly matched well against the #2 ranked Vipers, need to stick with the same game plan that was used in Game 2. Play a tight defensive game, wich really shut down the Vipers high powered offence. Powell River did a great job at clogging up the middle and front of the net, as well as limiting the Vipers chances through out Game 1 & 2. The Kings did a great job at scoring on their chances as well as getting strong goaltending from Josh Watson. Watson will once again have to be tall between the pipes for the Kings. Powell River needs to take advantage of home ice and use the crowd and home rink to their advantage. Will we see any fireworks after some heated moments in Game 2? Tonight should be another low scoring contest.
Key Players To Watch:
Matt Garbowsky (12-13-25)
Daniel Carr (13-11-24)
Mat Bodie (6-17-23)
Jordan Grant (6-9-15)
Mitch Labreche (5-9-14)
Chad Niddery (7-6-13)
Darcy Huisman (0-8-8)
Reid Campbell (1-7-8)
Cody Rainaldi (4-4-8)
Teagan Waugh (3-4-7)
Ben Schmidt (3-3-6)
Josh Watson (13-5 Record, 3 Shutouts- 1.90 GAA)
Powell River Kings Playoff Scoring:
Matt Garbowsky (12-13-25)
Daniel Carr (13-11-24)
Mat Bodie (6-17-23)
Jordan Grant (6-9-15)
Mitch Labreche (5-9-14)
Chad Niddery (7-6-13)
Justin Dasilva (1-8-9)
Darcy Huisman (0-8-8)
Reid Campbell (1-7-8)
Cody Rainaldi (4-4-8)
Teagan Waugh (3-4-7)
Ben Schmidt (3-3-6)
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 (13-5 Record, 3 Shutouts- 1.90 GAA)
Michael Garteig (0-0 Record)
Heres a look at the series:
Game 1: 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
Game 2: Saturday, April 3rd @ Vernon: Powell River wins 3-1
Connor Jones opened the scoring on the powerplay at 6:36 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Matt Garbowsky on the powerplay at 18:14 ties the game heading into the 3rd. Cody Rainaldi at 3:05 gives the Kings their first lead of the series, before Mitch Labreche seals the victory with an empty netter at 19:34 giving Powell River the 3-1 win wich ties the series 1-1. The Vipers outshot the Kings 31-26. Josh Watson made 30 saves for the win, while Graeme Gordon made 23 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812879&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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