(Game Preview) Exibition: Salmon Arm @ Vernon:

Salmon Arm (1-1-0) @ Vernon (2-0-0)

Tonight is the first exibition meeting between these two teams as the defending back to back Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers face off against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Vernon won five out of seven meetings between these two teams last year. Game starts at 7:00pm

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Vernon finished atop the BCHL standings last season with a record of 51-6-0-3 winning the 2010 Royal Bank Cup. The Vipers have just seven players back from last years championship team. Some Viper fans are calling this a rebuilding season. Vernon has lost some key veterans from last years team, wich will be very hard to replace. Tonight is the first look for Viper fans at their 2010-11 Vipers in the teams only home exhibition game of the season. Vernon is coming off back to back wins over the Trail Smoke Eaters in exhibition play last weekend with scores of 4-0 and 4-3.

Returning Players:

Bryce Kakoske (90)
David Robinson (90)
Blake Voth (91)
Steve Weinstein (90)
Adam Thompson (90)
Dylan Walchuk (92)
Patrick McGillis (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Connor Jones (90)
Mike Collins (90)
Braden Pimm (89)
Cory Kane (90)
Jonathan Milhouse (89)
Kellen Jones (90)
Rob Short (89)
Cole Ikkala (90)
Dan Nycholat (89)
Kevin Kraus (89)
Curtis Gedig (91)
Garrett Noonan (91)
Sahir Gill (92)
Darrin Robak (91)
Graeme Gordon (89)

Let's take a look at the Salmon Arm Silverbacks:

Salmon Arm finished the regular season last year with a record of 29-25-3-3 finishing off in 4th place in the Interior Division, but went out in five games in the first round of the playoffs to the Quesnel Millionaires. This led to the firing of head coach Matt Hughes. Over the off season former Vernon Laker & current Silverbacks GM Rylan Ferster left the team and signed on as the new head coach-gm of the KIJHL Revelestoke Grizzlies. The Backs then hired former Trail Smoke Eaters head coach, Tim Kehler as the teams new head coach and gm as well as new assistant coach Dave Erickson. The Backs have a possible fifteen players returning from last years hockey club. Salmon Arm will be looking to compete with some of the top Interior teams this coming season after struggling with basically a 500 hockey team last year. Can the Silverbacks compete in the top four in the Interior Division this year? Salmon Arm has some key veterans returning, that will try and help lead the Smokies into a long playoff run. This the Backs first of four straight games vs the defending RBC Cup Champs. Both teams play back to back this weekend in a home and home exhibition series before starting off the regular season the following weekend with a home and home series. Should make for an interesting four games. Salmon Arm is coming off a 7-6 loss to the Merritt Centennials in game 1 before defeating the Cents 8-4 in the second game the following night.

Possible Returning Players:

Matt Cassidy (90)
Devin Gannon (91)
Christopher Hoe (90)
David Killip (91)
Brett Knowles (91)
Justin Krabben (91)
Josh Manson (91)
Brandon Mistal (92)
Josh Monk (92)
Greg Noyes (90)
Jayson Reardon (90)
Matt Ridley (90)
Rick Soo (91)
Charlie Vasaturo (90)
Kurt Williams (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Mark Zengerle (89)
Corey Chakeen (89)
Tyler Gubb (89)
Travis Statchuk (90)
Bobby Lipsett (89)
Levi Hantula (90)
Kyle Peden (89)
Tony Ierfino (89)

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

(Both are from the teams last exhibition games) (Rosters may change)

Vernon:

Steve Weinstein (Returning from last years team)
Malcolm Lyles
Phillip Patenaude
Taylor Love
Bryce Kakoske (Returning from last years team)
Dylan Walchuk (Returning from last years team)
Darren Nowick (Recruited-Committed)
Todd Skirving (Recruited-Committed)
Trevor Fitzgerald (Recruited-Committed)
Adriano Munglioni
Elliott Richardson
Patrick McGillis (Returning from last years team)
Colton Sparrow (Attended Vipers Camp Last Year)
Tanner Cohrane
Adam Thompson (Returning from last years team)
Brett Corkey (Recruited-Committed)
Bennett Hambrook (Attended Vipers Camp Last Year)
Austin Sture
John Knisley
Mike Zalewski
David Robinson (Returning from last years team)
Kyle Murphy
Gus Correale
Aaron Hadley (Recruited-Committed)
Marcus Basara (Recruited-Committed)

Bryton Udy
Blake Voth (Returning from last years team)
Tyler Steel (Attended Vipers Camp Last Year)

Salmon Arm:

#1 Jacob Mattes (G)
#41 Kris Moore (G)

#4 Dustin Cave (D)
#5 Adam DiBella (D)
#7 Joel Kipp (D)
#8 Matt Ridley (D)
#14 Justin Krabben (D)
#28 Mike Matthes (D)

#9 Braeden Monk (F)
#10 David Henry (F)
#15 Morgan Zulinick (F)
#17 Graham McBain (F)
#18 Rick Soo (F)
#19 David Kilip
#20 Brendan Burge (F)
#22 Josh McKissock (F)
#24 Spencer Samuel (F)
#39 Cody Michelle (F)
#91 Devin Muller (F)
#94 Taylor Fauchoux (F)