(Game Preview) Vernon @ Salmon Arm:

Vernon (20-8-4-6) @ Salmon Arm (23-13-1-0)

Tonight is the fifth meeting of the season & the first of a home and home series between the defending back to back Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Tonight is the Vipers first game back after the Christmas break and final game of a current six game road trip for the Vipers, Vernon started out the trip before the Christmas break with a 5-2 win in Cowichan Valley, a 4-0 victory in Victoria, a 1-1 tie in Alberni Valley, a 3-2 win in Nanaimo and tied Penticton just before the holidays. Salmon Arm is also playing it’s first game after the Christmas break, the Silverbacks are coming off back to back losses before the Christmas break in a home and home series with the Westside Warriors. You can listen to today’s game live with Todd Miller, starting with the pre-game show at 6:45pm on 107.5 Kiss FM

Last Game Played:

Friday, December 17th Vernon tied Penticton 1-1
Saturday, December 18th Westside defeated Salmon Arm 6-4

Next Game:

Thursday, December 30th Salmon Arm @ Vernon

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Games Played: 38
Wins: 20
Losses: 8
Ties: 4
Overtime Losses: 6
Home Record: 7-3-2-3
Road Record: 13-5-2-3
Streak: Unbeaten in ten games
Last Ten Games: 7-0-3-0
Goals For: 118
Goals Against: 89
Standings: 2nd place

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon is 34-22-3-3 vs. Salmon Arm

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon has outscored Salmon Arm 219-209

Since the 2003-04 season Vernon is 13-11-0-1 at home vs. Salmon Arm

Since the 2003-04 season Vernon is 15-8-2-3 in Salmon Arm

Vernon is 5-5 in its last 10 visits at the Sunwave Centre

Vernon is 4-6 in its last 10 games vs. Salmon Arm

Vernon’s last win in Salmon Arm was a 4-1 victory back on Friday, February 19th 2010

The Vernon Lakers changed their name to the Vernon Vipers to start the 1995-96 season. Here’s a look at the Vipers all-time regular season record

Games Played: 938
Wins: 603
Losses: 242
Ties: 14
Overtime Losses: 82

For more stats & former Vernon Junior Hockey Team rosters & lineups please visit Paul’s Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

http://members.shaw.ca/vernonfranchise/index.html

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)

Vernons Powerplay vs. Salmon Arm this season:

2-25

Vernons Home record vs. Salmon Arm this season:

0-2

Vernons Road record vs. Salmon Arm this season:

0-2

Vernons scoring leaders vs. Salmon Arm this season:

Max Mowat (0-2-2)
Dylan Walchuk (1-0-1)
David Robinson (2-1-3)
Aaron Hadley (3-0-3)
Bryce Kakoske (1-2-3)
Kyle Murphy (0-2-2)
John Knisley (0-1-1)
Michael Zalewski (0-1-1)

Blake Voth (0-3 Record)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-Tonight is the Vipers first game since December, 17th

-With ten days off for the Christmas break, getting off to a good start will be key for both teams. The Vipers need to be ready and keep things simple in the first five to ten minutes of the opening period and try and get their legs going

-Vernon is playing it’s best hockey of the season, unbeaten in their last ten games

-The Vipers last loss was a 5-4 overtime loss to the Langley Chiefs back on Saturday, November 20th in Langley

-The Vipers are unbeaten in their last seven road games (5-0-2)

-Goaltending will be key for both teams tonight

-Specialty teams will also be key for both teams tonight

-The Vipers who have had troubles scoring goals this season, need to try and get lots of traffic in front of Kris Moore. Vernon also needs to drive towards the net, and try and get some bodies in and around the Silverbacks crease

-Vernon has only surrendered 89 goals this season, wich is second best behind the league leading Powell River Kings, who have given up just 63

-Since their last meeting with the Backs back on November, 13th (4-3 Silverbacks win) the Vipers are 8-1-3-1

-The Vipers are only three points back of 1st place Penticton

-Blake Voth is 1-3 in his career vs. Salmon Arm

-Kirby Halcrow is 1-4 in his career vs. Salmon Arm

-The Vipers have played just three games at home in their last fourteen games

-Vernon has had troubles vs. Salmon Arm this season, and need to get some confidence going against the Backs incase both teams face off against each other in the playoffs

-After tonight’s game nine of Vernons next twelve games will be played at the Wesbild Centre

-Blake Voth (17-9-3 Record) is second in the league’s top ten goaltenders with a 2.07 GAA

-Vernon has the second worst powerplay in the league

-The Vipers are ranked 9th in the league on the penalty kill

-This is a huge series for both teams. Vernon is just three points up on Salmon Arm in the standings and needs to show the Silverbacks they can beat them

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

Games Played: 37
Wins: 23
Losses: 13
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 0
Home Record: 13-5-0-0
Road Record: 10-8-1-0
Streak: Two game losing streak
Last Ten Games: 5-4-1-0
Goals For: 141
Goals Against: 130
Standings: 4th Place

Since their last meeting back on November, 13th Salmon Arm has made a couple of changes,

14-Dec-10 The Coquitlam Express Hockey Club have transferred the playing rights of Brad Reid (90)(F) to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

30-Nov-10 The Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Clayton Petrie (92)(F), Justin Krabben (91)(D) and future considerations to the Calgary Canucks Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for the playing rights of Kevin Mills (90)(D).

30-Nov-10 The Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Clayton Petrie (92)(F) to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

28-Nov-10 The Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club transfer the playing rights of Chase Martin (92)(G) to the Cowichan Valley Capitals Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations

For more coverage and info on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, please visit Patrick Haas’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks blog, http://haashub.blogspot.com/

Returning Players:

Matt Cassidy (90)
Devin Gannon (91)
David Killip (91)
Brett Knowles (91)
Justin Krabben (91)
Josh Manson (91)
Brandon Mistal (92)
Jayson Reardon (90)
Charlie Vasaturo (90)
Kurt Williams (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Matt Ridley (90)
Christopher Hoe (90)
Josh Monk (92)
Mark Zengerle (89)
Corey Chakeen (89)
Tyler Gubb (89)
Travis Statchuk (90)
Bobby Lipsett (89)
Levi Hantula (90)
Kyle Peden (89)
Tony Ierfino (89)

Salmon Arms Powerplay vs. Vernon this season:

5-19

Salmon Arms Home record vs. Vernon this season:

2-0

Salmon Arms Road record vs. Vernon this season:

2-0

Salmon Arms scoring leaders vs. Vernon this season:

Devin Gannon (3-2-5)
Matt Cassidy (0-4-4)
Brett Knowles (2-2-4)
David Killip (1-3-4)
Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (2-1-3)
Josh Manson (2-1-3)
Bryce Gervais (1-1-2)
Taylor Fauchoux (1-1-2)
Jayson Reardon (2-0-2)
Charlie Vasaturo (0-2-2)
Justin Krabben (0-2-2)
Brandon Mistal (0-1-1)
Devin Muller (1-0-1)
Cody Michelle (1-0-1)
Clinton Atkinson(0-1-1)
Paul De Jersey (1-0-1)

Kris Moore (2-0 Record)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-Tonight is the Backs first game since December 18th

-Salmon Arm who has only lost 5 games on home ice, will be tough once again tonight

-Specialty teams will be key

-Josh McKissock & Colin O’Hara are facing their former team. McKissock attended the Vipers training camp last season but was cut before signing with Salmon Arm this year, and O’Hara was an Assistant Coach in Vernon for just one season before leaving for a head coaching job in the SJHL. O’Hara is in his first season with the Silverbacks.

-Tonight is the first of a four game home stand for the Silverbacks

-Kris Moore (11-4-1 Record) is tenth in the league’s top ten goaltenders with a 2.80 GAA

-Clinton Atkinson has points in seven straight games

-Salmon Arm has the leagues second best powerplay & as well as the leagues second best penalty kill

-The Backs who are 4-0 against Vernon this season, seem to have the Vipers number this year. The Silverbacks seem to have confidence playing against the Vipers

-Since beating Vernon 4-3 on November, 13th Salmon Arm has gone (7-5-1)

-The Backs are a single point back of 3rd place Westside, and three points back of 2nd place Vernon

-Kris Moore is 2-0 against the Vipers and has stopped 59 out of 61 Vernon shots this season. Moore hasn’t played Vernon since the teams first two meetings of the season

Here’s a look at the season series between these two teams:

Friday, September 10th @ Vernon: Salmon Arm wins 4-1

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Vernon Vipers at 12:55 (PP) - Dylan Walchuk from David Robinson
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 13:45 - Devin Muller from Taylor Fauchoux
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 16:51 - Brett Knowles from David Killip and Jayson Reardon

PERIOD 2

No Scoring

PERIOD 3

Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 7:01 (PP) - Jarryd Ten Vaanholt from Jayson Reardon and Charlie Vasaturo
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 8:06 - Taylor Fauchoux from Brandon Mistal and Justin Krabben

Salmon Arm outshot Vernon 29-27. Kris Moore made 26 saves in the win, while Blake Voth made 25 saves in the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840175&link=bchl

Saturday, September 11th @ Salmon Arm: Salmon Arm wins 4-1

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 1:39 (PP) - David Killip from Brett Knowles and Jarryd Ten Vaanholt
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 2:03 - Bryce Gervais (unassisted)

PERIOD 2

Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 2:30 - Josh Manson from Bryce Gervais

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 7:43 - Aaron Hadley from Bryce Kakoske
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 17:40 - Cody Michelle from Matt Cassidy and Devin Gannon

Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 34-13. Kris Moore made 33 saves picking up the win, while Blake Voth made 9 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840261&link=bchl

Friday, November 12th @ Vernon: Salmon Arm wins 3-2

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 0:21 - Devin Gannon from Clinton Atkinson and Matt Cassidy
Vernon Vipers at 18:09 - Aaron Hadley from Michael Zalewski and Max Mowat
Vernon Vipers at 18:18 - Aaron Hadley from John Knisley and Max Mowat

PERIOD 2

Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 11:47 - Paul De Jersey (unassisted)
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 13:43 (PP) - Devin Gannon from Matt Cassidy

PERIOD 3

No Scoring

Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 28-18. Chase Martin made 26 saves picking up the victory, while Blake Voth made 6 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840176&link=bchl

Saturday, November 13th @ Salmon Arm: Salmon Arm wins 4-3

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

No Scoring

PERIOD 2

Vernon Vipers at 8:03 - David Robinson from Kyle Murphy and Bryce Kakoske
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 18:21 - Devin Gannon from Charlie Vasaturo and Matt Cassidy

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 2:40 (SH) - Bryce Kakoske (unassisted)
Vernon Vipers at 5:10 (PP) - David Robinson from Kyle Murphy
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 8:13 (PP) - Jarryd Ten Vaanholt from Brett Knowles and David Killip
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 8:34 (PP) - Josh Manson from Justin Krabben and Devin Gannon
Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 10:14 (SH) - Brett Knowles from Josh Manson and David Killip

Vernon outshot Salmon Arm 43-28. Chase Martin made 40 saves in the win, while Bryton Udy made 24 saves in the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840262&link=bchl

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (17-20-37)
Bryce Kakoske (12-23-35)
David Robinson (19-10-29)
Michael Zalewski (9-15-24)
John Knisley (6-18-24)
Kyle Murphy (9-11-20)
Aaron Hadley (8-11-19)
Adam Thompson (4-15-19)
Malcolm Lyles (4-14-18)
Marcus Basara (8-8-16)
Brett Corkey (0-14-14)
Trevor Fitzgerald (7-7-14)
Steven Weinstein (2-11-13)
Max Mowat (1-10-11)
Patrick McGillis (5-4-9)
Darren Nowick (1-7-8)
Todd Skirving (3-4-7)
Colton Sparrow (0-3-3)
Zach McPhee (2-0-2)
Philip Patenaude (0-1-1)

Kirby Halcrow With Quesnel (5-18-1 Record, 3.56 GAA)
With Vernon (2-0-1 Record, 1.56 GAA)
Blake Voth (17-9-3 Record, 2 Shutouts, 2.07 GAA)

Salmon Arm:

Devin Gannon (16-22-38)
David Killip (14-23-37)
Brett Knowles (18-17-35)
Brad Reid (15-20-35)
Clinton Atkinson (2-32-34)
Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (12-20-32)
Josh Manson (10-21-31)
Bryce Gervais (17-12-29)
Matt Cassidy (12-15-27)
Cody Michelle (8-12-20)
Devin Muller (8-7-15)
Charlie Vasaturo (2-12-14)
Brandon Mistal (6-5-11)
Morgan Zulinick (4-7-11)
Jayson Reardon (0-9-9)
Paul De Jersey (3-3-6)
Josh McKissock (1-4-5)
James Friedel (1-3-4)
Kevin Mills (0-3-3)
Dustin Cave (0-2-2)
Justin Elliott (0-1-1)

Kris Moore (11-4-1 Record, 2.80 GAA)
Kurt Williams (5-6 Record, 3.50 GAA)