Interior Conference Finals-Game 1 Preview: Salmon Arm @ Vernon:

Interior Conference Finals-Game 1: Salmon Arm (8-1) @ Vernon (4-2)

Tonight is Game 1 of the Interior Conference Finals between the 3rd place Salmon Arm Silverbacks and the defending National Champion Vernon Vipers. The Silverbacks are coming off a first round series sweep of the Merritt Centennials and a second round victory taking out the Penticton Vees in five games making the Interior Conference Final for just the third time in team history. The Vipers won their 15th Interior Division-Conference Pennant giving them a first round bye before they knocked out the 4th place Westside Warriors in six games making the Interior Division-Conference Final for the 18th time in franchise history. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 6:45pm

Here's a look at the Vipers-Silverbacks Playoff Schedule:

(Interior Conference Finals)

#1 Vernon Vipers vs. #3 Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Game 1: Friday, March 18th @ Vernon
Game 2: Saturday, March 19th @ Vernon
Game 3: Monday, March 21st @ Salmon Arm
Game 4: Tuesday, March 22nd @ Salmon Arm
Game 5: Thursday, March 24th @ Vernon
Game 6: Friday, March 25th @ Salmon Arm
Game 7: Saturday, March 26th @ Vernon

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers: (Playoffs)

Games Played: 6
Wins: 4
Losses: 2
Home Record: 2-1
Road Record: 2-1
Streak: Three game winning streak
Goals For: 21
Goals Against: 15

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)

Vernon’s Home record vs. Salmon Arm during the regular season:

0-3-0-1

Vernon’s Road record vs. Salmon Arm during the regular season:

1-3-0-0

Vernon’s Powerplay vs. Salmon Arm during the regular season:

4-44

Vernon’s scoring leaders vs. Salmon Arm during the regular season:

Kyle Murphy (3-6-9)
Bryce Kakoske (2-3-5)
Max Mowat (1-4-5)
Aaron Hadley (4-0-4)
Dylan Walchuk (2-2-4)
David Robinson (2-1-3)
Marcus Basara (1-2-3)
John Knisley (1-1-2)
Michael Zalewski (0-2-2)
Patrick McGillis (1-1-2)
Darren Nowick (0-2-2)
Malcolm Lyles (1-0-1)
Adam Thompson (0-1-1)

Blake Voth (0-3 Record)
Kirby Halcrow (1-2 Record)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-The Vipers who have had trouble with Salmon Arm all regular season, need to get off to a quick start and get to Kris Moore early and often

-The Vipers need to play a full 60 minutes vs a very strong Silverbacks hockey club

-The Vipers need to play physical and get the forecheck going down low, the Vipers are a much better club when they get the defence turned around and work the cycle

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

-Vernon is 0-2 in these playoffs when giving up the games first goal

-Kirby Halcrow has to be just as good as he was in the Westside series, Vernon needs some big saves when needed

-Getting off to a good start and a strong finish is key for Vernon

-The Vipers are 4-0 in these playoffs when scoring first

-Experience and leadership is key for any team come playoff time, the Vipers seven returning players from last years RBC Cup team will have to lead the way and use their experience and leadership through these playoffs

-Vernon has to once again play shutdown hockey and shutdown the Silverbacks offensive players

-Vernon needs to stay out of the penalty box, facing off against one of the league’s best powerplay units

-Kirby Halcrow is 2-7 in his career vs. Salmon Arm

-Vernon has the 10th ranked powerplay in these playoffs

-The Vipers have the 5th ranked penalty kill in the playoffs

-The Vipers need to get a ton of traffic in front of Kris Moore, drive hard towards the net and get as many shots on goal as possible

Here’s a look at the previous Playoff meetings between these two teams:

2005-06 Salmon Arm defeated Vernon in five games
2008-09 Vernon defeated Salmon Arm in six games

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 playoff record

Playoff Series Played: 45
Playoff Series Won: 35
Playoff Series Lost: 10

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

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

Games Played: 9
Wins: 8
Losses: 1
Home Record: 3-1
Road Record: 5-0
Streak: One game winning streak
Goals For: 36
Goals Against: 23

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:

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)
Matt Cassidy (90)

Salmon Arm's Home record vs. Vernon during the regular season:

3-1-0-0

Salmon Arm's Road record vs. Vernon during the regular season:

4-0-0-0

Salmon Arm's Powerplay vs. Vernon during the regular season:

8-37

Salmon Arm's scoring leaders vs. Vernon during the regular season:

Brett Knowles (5-5-10)
Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (5-2-7)
David Killip (3-4-7)
Devin Gannon (4-2-6)
Bryce Gervais (3-2-5)
Jayson Reardon (2-3-5)
Josh Manson (2-3-5)
Charlie Vasaturo (0-4-4)
Brandon Mistal (0-3-3)
Taylor Fauchoux (1-1-2)
Justin Krabben (0-2-2)
Clinton Atkinson(0-2-2)
Cody Michelle (1-1-2)
Kevin Mills (1-1-2)
Brad Reid (2-0-2)
Mike Hammond (0-2-2)
Devin Muller (1-0-1)
Paul De Jersey (1-0-1)

Kris Moore (5-1 Record)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-The Silverbacks are making just their third apperance in the Interior Conference Final, Salmon Arm made the Conference Final for the first time but lost to the Nanaimo Clippers in the 2006 BCHL League Final, before falling to Vernon in the 2008-09 Interior Conference Final

-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 three years ago before leaving for a head coaching job in the SJHL. O’Hara is in his first season with the Silverbacks.

-Salmon Arm's defence has to try and clear the front of the net, so Kris Moore can do his job of stopping pucks with little traffic in front

-The Backs have outscored the Vipers 29-19 in seven games this year

-The Silverbacks need to get lots of pucks and shots on the Vernon net, as the Vipers goaltenders havnt played very well against Salmon Arm all year

-Goaltending will be key for both teams

-The Backs are going to want to try and score early first and take the crowd out of the game

-Kris Moore who is 4-1 against Vernon this season stopping 189 out of 205 shots in six games vs Vernon this season.

-The Silverbacks are 8-0-0-0 when scoring the first goal of the game in these playoffs

-Salmon Arm is 0-1-0-0 when giving up the first goal of the game in these playoffs

-The Backs need to try and slow down Vernon's speed and skill and not allow the Vipers to control the puck and play down low

-Salmon Arm has a ton of confidence playing the Vipers, but has to remember playoffs is a whole new season

-The Silverbacks are 4-0 at the Wesbild Centre this season

-The Silverbacks need to capitalize on their chances

Here's a look at both teams playoff rosters-stats:

Vernon:

Patrick McGillis (3-3-6)
Colton Sparrow (2-3-5)
Trevor Fitzgerald (2-3-5)
Dylan Walchuk (2-3-5)
Aaron Hadley (1-3-4)
Marcus Basara (2-2-4)
Bryce Kakoske (1-3-4)
Adam Thompson (1-2-3)
Malcolm Lyles (2-1-3)
David Robinson (1-2-3)
Brett Corkey (0-2-2)
John Knisley (1-1-2)
Michael Zalewski (1-1-2)
Darren Nowick (1-1-2)
Dane Muench (1-0-1)
Kyle Murphy (0-1-1)
Max Mowat (0-1-1)
Steven Weinstein (0-0-0)
Ryan Renz (0-0-0)
Zach McPhee (0-0-0)
Philip Patenaude (0-0-0)

Kirby Halcrow (3-1 Record, 1.74 GAA)
Blake Voth (1-1, 3.74 GAA Record)

Salmon Arm:

Brett Knowles (5-9-14)
Mike Hammond (8-5-13)
Devin Gannon (5-5-10)
Josh Manson (1-5-6)
Clinton Atkinson (0-6-6)
Jayson Reardon (0-6-6)
Paul De Jersey (3-2-5)
Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (3-2-5)
Brad Reid (2-3-5)
Bryce Gervais (1-4-5)
Charlie Vasaturo (2-2-4)
Devin Muller (1-3-4)
Morgan Zulinick (1-3-4)
David Killip (1-3-4)
Kevin Mills (1-2-3)
Dustin Cave (2-0-2)
James Friedel (0-1-1)
Brandon Mistal (0-1-1)
Justin Elliott (0-1-1)
Cody Michelle (0-0-0)
Josh McKissock (0-0-0)

Kris Moore (8-1 Record, 2.52 GAA)
Kurt Williams (0-0 Record)