Vernon (0-2) @ Penticton (2-0)Tonight is the first night of a home and home series with the Vernon Vipers & Penticton Vees. Two of the leagues oldest franchises, these two teams have had a long history vs one another as two of the leagues long time rivals face off for the first time since last years Interior Conference Playoffs. Tonight will mark Vernons second straight game on the road while Penticton is playing their second straight home game. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller starting at 6:56pm on 107.5 Kiss FM
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 for the second year in a row. The Vipers have just seven players back from last years championship team. The Vipers have started the year at 0-2 dropping back to back games last weekend vs Salmon Arm. Vernon currently sits tied for 4th place in the Interior Division with Westside & Merritt. The Vipers have scored just two goals in their first two games, but have given up eight goals against in two games.
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)
KEY RETURNEES: F Dylan Walchuk (19-28-47), Bryce Kakoske (13-28-41), Dave Robinson (15-10-25), D Adam Thompson (5-20-25), D Stevie Weinstein (4-18-22), G Blake Voth (1.79 GAA, 92.90 save percentage).
ROOKIE SENSATIONS: Power forward Aaron Hadley scored at a point-a-game clip, and added 94 penalty minutes, as a 16-year-old with the KIJHL Beaver Valley Nitehawks. F Trevor Fitzgerald surpassed all expectations last season, leading the expansion North Okanagan Knights with 67 points in 49 games. The Vernon product also practised with the Snakes and played in the Royal Bank Cup championships. F Marcus Basara (37-28-65) led the Notre Dame Hounds to their second straight Telus Cup title.
-The Vipers need to get off to a better start on the road
-Vernon needs more offence, last years veterans are going to have to step up their play
-The Vipers are going to need to get a big or several big saves from either Blake Voth or Bryton Udy
-Can the Vipers play and compete with the Vees?
-The Vipers need to step up the physical play
Let's take a look at the Penticton Vees:
Penticton finished the regular season last year with a record of 48-8-0-4 finishing off in 2nd place in the Interior Division, but went out in six games to the arch rival Vernon Vipers in the Interior Conference Finals. The Vees have just seven players returning from last years hockey club, but have done some very strong recruiting as well as made a handful of trades over the off season. Word out of Penticton is the Vees have a very strong hockey club that will be one of if not the top team in the league. The Vees finished the exhibition schedule at 4-0 and have started off the regular season at 2-0 with back to back wins over the Westside Warriors last weekend. Penticton sits tied for 1st place in the Interior Division with Trail & Salmon Arm. The Vees have scored five goals and only given up two. For more on the Vees and tonights game, please visit Ryan Pinders Penticton Vees blog, http://pentictonvees.podbean.com/
Returning Players:
Garrett Milan (91)
Logan Johnston (91)
Joey Holka (90)
Joey Laleggia (92)
Derik Johnson (90)
Stefan Nicholishen (93)
Joel Rumpel (91)
Departing & traded players from last years team:
Beau Bennett (91)
Denver Manderson (89)
Alex Szczechura (90)
Andrew Pickering (89)
Ben Sexton (91)
Matt Paltridge (89)
Ryan Viselli (89)
Eric Filiou (89)
Bo Dolan (90)
Isaac Macleod (92)
Luke Curadi (91)
Byron Sorensen (91)
Sean Bonar (91)
Jake Johnson (89)
KEY RETURNEES: F Joey Holka (28-23-51), F Logan Johnston (14-17-31), D Joey Laleggia (13-52-65), F Garrett Milan (30-30-60), F Stefan Nicholishen (2-5-7), D Derik Johnson (1-13-14), G Joel Rumpel (19-3-0, two shutouts, .920 save percentage).
ROOKIE SENSATIONS: As a junior with St. Francis in 2009, Joey Benik set a Minnesota state high school record with 63 goals (previously 62). Including the playoffs, he scored 65 goals and 102 points that season. F James Polk scored 27 goals and 48 points in 55 prep games with Shattuck-St.Mary’s high school last season. Polk’s teammate, F Bradley Robbins scored 21 goals and 54 points in 55 games. D Troy Stecher, can handle the puck and tallied four goals and 31 points with the Greater Vancouver Canadians in the B.C. Major Midget League last season.
STRENGTHS: There is a focus on building an identity during the month of September. As that happens, coach/GM Fred Harbinson expects the Vees to be a hard-working club that will be difficult to play against.
COACH'S QUOTE: Harbinson: “We want to be skilled but still be blue-collar. No one can hang the tag on us of being just a freewheeling team.”
-Penticton will be looking for revenge after falling in six games to the Vipers in last years Interior Conference Finals
-The Vees will try to become 3-0 to start the season with a win tonight
-Penticton needs to jump on a very young Vernon team playing just its second game away from home
-Mark Hall will be facing his former team since being acquired in a trade during the off season
-Are the rumors true about the Vees or is this years version of the Penticton Vees all hype?
Here’s a look at the season series between these two teams from last year:
October 3rd @ Vernon: Penticton wins 2-0
Vernon outshot Penticton 34-15 but lost their first game of the season 2-0 after Denver Manderson (shorthanded) & Joey Holka scored for the Vees. The Vipers had many chances but couldn’t beat Sean Bonar who played very well making 34 saves for the shutout. Graeme Gordon made 13 saves in the loss. Penticton ended Vernon’s 22 game winning streak (going back to Game six of last years BCHL Finals)
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712575&link=bchl
Friday October 9th @ Penticton: Vernon wins 2-1 Overtime
Mike Collins 2nd period goal looked like the game winner before Alex Szczechura tied the game late in the 3rd at 15:11 sending the game to overtime. Dylan Walchuk setup Rob Short at 2:30 of the extra period giving the Vipers the 2-1 OT victory. Graeme Gordon made 24 saves for the win, while Sean Bonar made 25 saves taking the loss. Vernon outshot Penticton 27-25.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712589
Friday, December 4th @ Vernon: Penticton wins 4-1
Alex Szczechura & Denver Manderson seconds apart put Penticton up 2-0 early in the 1st period before Bryce Kakoske with a late goal cut the lead to 2-1. Specialty teams took over in the 2nd period as Garrett Milan & Joey Holka scored on the powerplay giving the Vees a 4-1 lead heading into the 3rd. No scoring in the final period as Penticton defeated the Vipers 4-1 outshooting Vernon 36-25. Sean Bonar made 25 saves for the win, while Graeme Gordon made 32 saves taking the loss. Denver Manderson collected three points.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712772
Saturday, December 12th @ Penticton: Penticton wins 3-2 overtime
SCORING SUMMARY
PERIOD 1
Vernon Vipers at 4:19 (PP) - Jonathan Milhouse from Connor Jones and Dan Nycholat
PERIOD 2
No Scoring
PERIOD 3
Penticton Vees at 2:06 (PP) - Joey Laleggia from Beau Bennett and Denver Manderson
Vernon Vipers at 4:35 (SH) - Jonathan Milhouse from Mike Collins and Dan Nycholat
Penticton Vees at 9:45 - Joey Holka from Garrett Milan and Ben Sexton
OVERTIME
Penticton Vees at 3:40 - Matt Paltridge from Beau Bennett and Denver Manderson
Vernon outshoots Penticton 39-28 Sean Bonar makes 37 saves for the victory, while Graeme Gordon makes 25 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712800&link=bchl
Friday February 12th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 5-3
SCORING SUMMARY
PERIOD 1
Vernon Vipers at 3:52 - Kellen Jones from Kevin Kraus and Connor Jones
PERIOD 2
Vernon Vipers at 6:38 (PP) - Mike Collins from Dan Nycholat
Vernon Vipers at 8:37 (PP) - Cole Ikkala from Connor Jones and Dan Nycholat
Penticton Vees at 9:43 - Joey Laleggia from Logan Johnston and Bo Dolan
Vernon Vipers at 18:42 - Connor Jones from Kellen Jones and David Robinson
PERIOD 3
Penticton Vees at 12:36 (PP) - Garrett Milan from Beau Bennett and Alex Szczechura
Penticton Vees at 13:51 (PP) - Beau Bennett from Joey Laleggia and Ben Sexton
Vernon Vipers at 19:27 (PP) - Braden Pimm from Sahir Gill and Adam Thompson
Vernon outshot Penticton 29-20. Blake Voth made 17 saves for the win, while Sean Bonar made 24 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712976&link=bchl
Wednesday, February 17th @ Penticton: Vernon wins 3-2 (Overtime)
SCORING SUMMARY
PERIOD 1
Penticton Vees at 8:47 (PP) - Alex Szczechura from Beau Bennett and Garrett Milan
PERIOD 2
No Scoring
PERIOD 3
Vernon Vipers at 3:04 - Sahir Gill from Cory Kane and Rob Short
Penticton Vees at 5:01 - Bo Dolan from Eric Filiou
Vernon Vipers at 14:33 - David Robinson from Kellen Jones and Connor Jones
OVERTIME PERIOD 1
Vernon Vipers at 2:18 - Kellen Jones from Connor Jones and Dan Nycholat
Vernon outshot Penticton 30-25. Blake Voth made 23 saves for the win, while Sean Bonar made 27 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=712991&link=bchl
Here’s a look at the series between both these two teams during last years playoffs:
Interior Conference Finals: Game 1: Friday, March 19th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 6-0
Dan Nycholat’s powerplay goal at 2:13 opened the scoring giving the Vipers the early 1-0 lead. Vernon carried the better of the play and was rewarded with two goals. Jonathan Milhouse scored on a breakaway with just 2.5 seconds remaining in the period. The Vipers took over control of the game in the 2nd and dominated for the remainder of the hockey game. Nycholat with his second of the night at 10:32 gave Vernona 3-0 lead. Then Garrett Noonan at 16:17 put the Vipers up 4-0. Kellen Jones & Rob Short (shorthanded) rounded out the scoring in the 3rd as Vernon walked away with a 6-0 victory taking a 1-0 series lead. Vernon outshot Penticton 47-19. Graeme Gordon made 19 saves for his third straight shutout, while Sean Bonar made 41 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808962&link=bchl
Interior Conference Finals: Game 2: Saturday, March 20th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 3-2 (Overtime)
Bo Dolan opens the scoring at 7:32 before Sahir Gill on the powerplay (11:03) & Connor Jones at 18:20 gives Vernon a 2-1 lead after the opening period. Just 39 seconds into the 2nd Derik Johnson ties the game with the lone goal of the period. No scoring in the 3rd sending the game to Overtime. Just 2:20 into the extra period Rob Short beat Sean Bonar giving Vernon the 3-2 victory taking a 2-0 series lead. The Vipers outshot the Vees 36-20. Graeme Gordon made 18 saves picking up the win, while Sean Bonar makes 34 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808963&link=bchl
Interior Conference Finals: Game 3: Tuesday March 23rd @ Penticton: Penticton wins 4-0
Matt Paltridge opened the scoring at 5:32 & Jake Johnson gave Penticton a 2-0 lead at 11:12 Ryan Viselli’s goal at 2:48 went in off Kevin Kraus’s skate giving the Vees a 3-0 lead. Denver Manderson hit the empty net at 18:49 giving Penticton a 4-0 victory. Sean Bonar made 37 saves for the win and shutout, while Graeme Gordon made 21 saves taking the loss. Vernon leads the series 2-1
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808964&link=bchl
Interior Conference Finals: Game 4: Wednesday, March 24th @ Penticton: Vernon wins 5-0
Bryce Kakoske opened the scoring at 7:31 giving Vernon a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Kakoske on the powerplay at 5:05 of the 2nd period gave the Vipers a 2-0 lead before Adam Thompson’s powerplay goal at 10:11 gave Vernon a 3-0 lead heading into the 3rd. Mike Collins shorthanded at 13:15 and Cole Ikkala on the powerplay at 19:38 sends Vernon home with a 5-0 win and a 3-1 series lead. This was the Vees first loss at home during the playoffs. Vernon outshot Penticton 28-21. Graeme Gordon made 21 saves for his 4th shutout while Sean Bonar made 23 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808965&link=bchl
Interior Conference Finals: Game 5: Friday, March 26th @ Vernon: Penticton wins 3-2 in triple overtime
Dylan Walchuk opened the scoring at 5:33 giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead after the 1st period. Cole Ikkala at 18:25 then gave the Vipers a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd period. Beau Bennett at 2:03 cuts the lead to 2-1. Joey Holka at 15:26 ties the game sending it to overtime. Vees Vaptain Denver Manderson scores at 7:14 giving Penticton the huge 3-2 triple overtime victory forcing a Game 6. Vernon outshot Penticton 63-47. Sean Bonar made 61 saves for the win, while Graeme Gordon made 44 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808966&link=bchl
Interior Conference Finals: Game 6: Saturday, March 27th @ Penticton: Vernon wins 4-1 to clinch the Interior Conference Championship and take the Interior Conference Finals in six games.
Eric Filiou opened the scoring at 4:05 but this would be the lone goal of the night for the Vees as the Vipers would score four straight with goals from, Dan Nycholat on the powerplay, Braden Pimm, David Robinson & Connor Jones. Shots were even 30-30. Graeme Gordon made 29 saves picking up the victory, while Sean Bonar made 26 saves taking the loss.
http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=808967&link=bchl
Here's a look at both teams rosters:
Vernon:
Aaron Hadley (1-0-1)
Dylan Walchuk (1-0-1)
Bryce Kakoske (0-1-1)
David Robinson (0-1-1)
Marcus Basara
Brett Corkey
Trevor Fitzgerald
Bennett Hambrook
John Knisley
Malcolm Lyles
Patrick McGillis
Darren Nowick
Philip Patenaude
Elliot Richardson
Todd Skirving
Steven Weinstein
Michael Zalewski
Gus Correale
Colton Sparrow
Kyle Murphy
Adam Thompson
Bryton Udy
Blake Voth (0-2 Record, 4.00 GAA)
Penticton:
Garrett Milan (1-2-3)
Logan Johnston (1-1-2)
Kyle Mountain (1-1-2)
Brendan O'Donnell (1-1-2)
Joey Holka (1-0-1)
Joey Benik (0-1-1)
Mark Hall (0-1-1)
Joey Laleggia (0-1-1)
James Polk (0-1-1)
Chad Bannor
Kyle Beaulieu
Tyler Hlookoff
Steven Iacobellis
Derik Johnson
Curtis Loik
Bradley Robbins
Troy Stecher
Jacob Charles
Mark MacMillan
Stefan Nicholishen
Billy Faust
Joel Rumpel (2-0 Record, 1.00 GAA)
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