(Game Preview) BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals: Game 5: Powell River @ Vernon:

Game Preview: Powell River (14-6) @ Vernon (10-6)

Last game played:

Game 4: Tuesday April 6th Vernon defeated Powell River 4-2

The defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & Powell River Kings meet in Game 5 tonight after the Vipers defeated the Kings 4-2 in Game 4. 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: (10-6)

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: 5-3

Vernon’s powerplay vs. Powell River: 2-15

Vernon has scored just three goals in three games vs. the Kings.

Vernon comes home after getting the split in Powell River and now plays in a crucial Game 5. This series now gets down to the best of three with Vernon having the home ice advantage. This is now where travel becomes a key factor. After Tuesday’s Game 4 both teams spent Wednesday heading back to Vernon for tonight’s Game 5. Both teams will then spend Friday travelling back to Powell River for Saturday’s Game 6. It will be interesting to see tonight if either of the two teams will have some bus legs. If the Vipers want to be successful against the Kings, Vernon needs to come out and play like they did in Game 4. The Vipers need to get off to a good start, try and get the games first goal, play physical, be aggressive, have some intensity and get scoring from all four lines. Graeme Gordon will have to be solid between the pipes as well. Vernon needs to once again try and fight through the Powell River defence and get bodies and pucks towards Josh Watson and the Kings net. Specialty teams will again play factor, the Vipers have struggled in the series with the man advantage. This is where the Vipers experience and leadership comes into play, the 13 players who won it all last year need to lead the way.

Key Players To Watch:

Connor Jones (9-7-16)
Kellen Jones (4-11-15)
Sahir Gill (5-8-13)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-6-9)
Dan Nycholat (3-6-9)
Braden Pimm (3-5-8)
Adam Thompson (2-5-7)
Graeme Gordon (9-5 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.76 GAA)

Vernon Vipers Playoff Scoring:

Connor Jones (9-7-16)
Kellen Jones (4-11-15)
Sahir Gill (5-8-13)
Rob Short (5-4-9)
Cole Ikkala (6-3-9)
Jonathan Milhouse (3-6-9)
Dan Nycholat (3-6-9)
Mike Collins (2-6-8)
Braden Pimm (3-5-8)
Cory Kane (2-6-8)
David Robinson (2-6-8)
Adam Thompson (2-5-7)
Kevin Kraus (1-5-6)
Garrett Noonan (2-3-5)
Steven Weinstein (0-5-5)
Bryce Kakoske (2-3-5)
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 (9-5 Record, 4 Shutouts, 1.76 GAA)

Lets take a look at the Powell River Kings: (14-6)

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: 7-3
Road Playoff Record: 7-3

Powell River’s powerplay vs. Vernon: 6-19

The Kings come into Game 5 tonight with a solid 7-3 road playoff record and have confidence they can win in Vernon after taking Game 2 here. Powell River will once again need strong goaltending from Josh Watson and play very well defensively against a Vernon team that finally got through their defence in Game 4. The Kings who have done fairly well with the man advantage need to make the Vipers pay on the powerplay. Powell River will be looking for a win tonight with a chance to win the BCHL Championship back home Saturday night. These are two fairly even matched teams, wich means this is anyones series right now. The Kings need to try and shut down the Jones Twins but also be aware that if the Vipers can get some scoring from their other three lines they could be in trouble. Powell River also needs to try and score early and get the crowd out of the game, as well as try and not do anything too exciting, play a tough defensive road game and try and come out with the win.

Key Players To Watch:

Mat Bodie (7-20-27)
Matt Garbowsky (12-14-26)
Daniel Carr (14-11-25)
Jordan Grant (6-9-15)
Mitch Labreche (5-9-14)
Chad Niddery (8-8-16)
Cody Rainaldi (5-5-10)
Justin Dasilva (1-11-12)
Darcy Huisman (0-8-8)
Reid Campbell (1-7-8)
Teagan Waugh (3-4-7)
Ben Schmidt (3-3-6)
Josh Watson (14-6 Record, 4 Shutouts- 1.86 GAA)

Powell River Kings Playoff Scoring:

Mat Bodie (7-20-27)
Matt Garbowsky (12-14-26)
Daniel Carr (14-11-25)
Chad Niddery (9-8-17)
Jordan Grant (6-9-15)
Mitch Labreche (5-9-14)
Justin Dasilva (1-11-12)
Cody Rainaldi (5-5-10)
Darcy Huisman (0-8-8)
Reid Campbell (1-7-8)
Teagan Waugh (3-4-7)
Ben Schmidt (3-3-6)
Brenden Forbes (2-3-5)
Andrew Pettitt (1-4-5)
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 (14-6 Record, 4 Shutouts- 1.86 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

Game 3: Monday, April 5th @ Powell River: Powell River wins 4-0

Chad Niddery at 15:12 on the powerplay gave the Kings their first lead of the game and first time this series they have scored the games first goal. It was 1-0 Powell River after the opening period. Cody Rainaldi put the Kings up 2-0 at 5:17. In the 3rd Andrew Pettitt on the powerplay at 48 seconds gave Powell River a 3-0 lead and then Mat Bodie on the man advantage at 6:58 gives the Kings a 4-0 lead. Powell River would defeat Vernon 4-0. The Kings outshot the Vipers 30-28. Josh Watson makes 28 saves for his 4th shutout of the playoffs, while Graeme Gordon made 26 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812880&link=bchl

Game 4: Tuesday, April 6th @ Powell River: Vernon wins 4-2
Cory Kane opned the scoring at 5:33 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Daniel Carr on the powerplay at 3:35 tied the game 1-1 before Connor Jones at 3:56 re stores Vernon’s lead. Sahir Gill at 19:29 gives the Vipers a 3-1 lead heading into the 3rd. Chad Niddery on the powerplay at 14:23 gets the Kings back to within a goal but Kevin Kraus with an empty netter at 19:50 seal’s the Vipers 4-2 victory. Vernon outshot Powell River 27-22. Graeme Gordon made 20 saves in the win, while Josh Watson made 24 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=812881&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