Interior Conference Semi-Finals-Game Preview: Game 1: Westside @ Vernon:

Round Two: Game 1: Westside (4-3) @ Vernon (0-0)

The defending back to back Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers start their quest of becoming the first junior hockey team in history to win three straight National Championships as the Vipers and Westside Warriors meet in the second round of the BCHL playoffs for just the second time in franchise history. Vernon went 4-0-1-1 vs Westside during the regular season. The Vipers are coming off a first round bye, while the Warriors are coming off a hard fought seven game series with the Trail Smoke Eaters. 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-Warriors Playoff Schedule:

(Second Round)

#1 Vernon Vipers vs. #4 Westside Warriors

Game 1: Tuesday, March 8th @ Vernon
Game 2: Wednesday, March 9th @ Vernon
Game 3: Friday, March 11th @ Westside
Game 4: Saturday, March 12th @ Westside
Game 5: Monday, March 14th @ Vernon
Game 6: Tuesday, March 15th @ Westside
Game 7: Wednesday, March 16th @ Vernon

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

2006-07 Vernon defeated Westside 4 games to 2

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: 44
Playoff Series Won: 34
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 Vernon Vipers: (Playoffs)

Games Played: 0
Wins: 0
Losses: 0
Home Record: 0-0-0-0
Road Record: 0-0-0-0
Streak:
Last Ten Games: 0-0-0-0
Goals For: 0
Goals Against: 0

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’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-The Vipers havnt played since the final game of the regular season, wich was 15 days ago. Vernon must try and shake off any rust from the layoff and get off to a good start

-Specialty teams will be key for both teams

-Who will get the start between the pipes for Vernon? Since acquiring Kirby Halcrow at the December, 1st BCHL card deadline Mark Ferner has rotated his two goaltenders each and every game, will the Vipers continue this trend tonight or will one of these two veteran goaltenders become the Vipers #1 starter for the playoff run?

-The Vipers need to get lots of pucks and traffic towards Kevin Boyle who is playing in just his eighth BCHL playoff game.

-Vernon’s seven veteran players from last years National Championship team has to show there leadership and use there playoff experience in these playoffs

-The Vipers need to use home ice to their advantage

-Vipers forward, Mike Zalewski hasn’t played since getting a concusion in Vernon’s 4-1 win over the Prince George Spruce Kings back on January, 15th

-Westside only lost eight home games all regular season but struggled away from Royal Le Page Place going just a game above 500 on the road. So the Vipers need to take advantage of a Warriors team that hasn’t done very well on the road

-Vernon is really going to have to be sharp defensively as the Warriors have lots of firepower up front

-Bryce Kakoske is playing his former team

Let's take a look at the Westside Warriors: (Playoffs)

Games Played: 7
Wins: 4
Losses: 3
Home Record: 3-1
Road Record: 1-2
Streak: One game winning streak
Goals For: 27
Goals Against: 20

Returning Players:

Alex Grieve (90)
Grayson Downing (92)
Tyler Brickler (91)
Kyle Singleton (90)
Quinn Gould (90)
Dru Morrison (92)
Tyler Krause (91)
Max French (92)
Matthew Maher (90)
Izaak Berglund (91)
Peter MacIntosh (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Trevor Bailey (89)
Cam Reid (91)
Brendan Ellis (89)
Cole Wilson (90)
Colton Sissons (93)
Joel Woznikoski (89)
Spencer Humphries (92)
Patrick Bartoshyk (90)
Michael Quinn (90)
Kevin Jebson (89)
Cam Gorchynski (92)

Key’s and Notes to tonight’s game:

-The Warriors who just come off a hard fought seven game series with Trail, need to use that energy and momentum and carry it over into tonight’s game

-Westside went 0-2-1-0 at the Wesbild Centre during the regular season

-Kevin Boyle and Cole Holowenko have ten games of playoff experience between the two goaltenders. Is this enough to knock off the six time National Champs?

-Westside is going to want to come out hitting and jump on a Vipers team that hasn’t played in fifteen days

-Westside is 4-0 when scoring the games first goal in the playoffs

-The Warriors are 0-3 when giving up the games first goal in these playoffs

-The Warriors have scored twenty seven goals in the playoffs, wich leads the league

-Westside needs to get off to a good start and try and take the crowd out of the game early

-The Warriors need to keep the game simple, get lots of pucks and traffic on either Blake Voth or Kirby Halcrow

-Tonight will be the Warriors fourth game in six nights

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

Vernon:

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

Kirby Halcrow (0-0 Record)
Blake Voth (0-0 Record)

Westside:

Alex Grieve (7-4-11)
Kyle Singleton (3-6-9)
Grayson Downing (2-7-9)
Shawn Hochhausen (2-4-6)
Tom Kroshus (0-5-5)
Tyler Brickler (1-3-4)
Tyler Krause (2-2-4)
Matt Cronin (0-3-3)
Izaak Berglund (0-3-3)
Brett Mckinnon (2-1-3)
Michael King (1-2-3)
Max French (2-0-2)
Dru Morrison (2-0-2)
Travis Blanleil (0-2-2)
Quinn Gould (1-0-1)
Tyler French (1-0-1)
Brayden Sherbinin (1-0-1)
Peter MacIntosh (0-1-1)
Brett Mulcahy (0-0-0)
Stefan Nicholishen (0-0-0)
Matthew Maher (0-0-0)

Kevin Boyle (4-3 Record, 1 Shutout, 2.81 GAA)
Cole Holowenko (0-0 Record)