Doyle Cup Series Preview: Spruce Grove @ Vernon:

The six time defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers are making their 11th appearence in the Doyle Cup with a 7-3 record.  Vernon is looking at winning it's 8th Doyle Cup and first of three straight after winning it back to back in 2009 and 2010.  The Enerflex Champion Spruce Grove Saints are making just their 4th appearence in the Doyle Cup with a 2-1 record, and will be going for just it's 3rd Doyle Cup.  These two teams are facing off in the Doyle Cup for the second year in a row, after Vernon defeated Spruce Grove in seven games last season. 

Here's a look at the Vipers-Saints Doyle Cup Playoff Schedule:

Below is the Schedule: (depending on the outcome of the first 2 games of the series)

SWEEP FIRST TWO GAMES:

Game 1 April 15, Spruce Grove @ Vernon
Game 2 April 16, Spruce Grove @ Vernon
Game 3 April 19, Vernon @ Spruce Grove
Game 4 April 20, Vernon @ Spruce Grove
Game 5 April 22, Vernon @ Spruce Grove
Game 6 April 23, Vernon @ Spruce Grove
Game 7 April 24, Vernon @ Spruce Grove

SPLIT FIRST TWO GAMES:

Game 1 April 15, Spruce Grove @ Vernon
Game 2 April 16, Spruce Grove @ Vernon
Game 3 April 17, Spruce Grove @ Vernon
Game 4 April 20, Vernon @ Spruce Grove
Game 5 April 21, Vernon @ Spruce Grove
Game 6 April 23, Vernon @ Spruce Grove
Game 7 April 24, Vernon @ Spruce Grove

The Doyle Cup was donated by Penticton businessman Pete Doyle and his family in 1985 and is presented to the winner of the Best-of-7 series between the BCHL and AJHL playoff champions. Since the Cup was introduced the BCHL has won 16 of 25 championships. Vernon (BCHL) has won the most titles with SIX, followed by the Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) with four. Penticton and Surrey are the only other B.C. teams to have won multiple Doyle Cups.

From 1968 to 1984 there were 15 B.C./Alberta Championships as the event was not contested in 1970 or 1979. The BCHL won six titles, the AJHL captured eight championships and the Richmond Sockeyes of the PCJHL won in 1977. Penticton was the only B.C. team to win multiple BC/Alberta Championships.

The Winner of the Doyle Cup advances to the RBC Cup, Canada's National Junior A Hockey Championship, as the representative for the Pacific Region.

YEAR BCHL REPRESENTATIVE DOYLE CUP SERIES RESULT

2010 Vernon Vipers Won 4-3 over Spruce Grove Saints
2009 Vernon Vipers Won 4-0 over Grand Prairie Storm
2008 Penticton Vees Lost 4-1 to Camrose Kodiaks
2007 Nanaimo Clippers Lost 4-1 to Camrose Kodiaks
2006 Burnaby Express Won 4-2 over Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2005 Surrey Eagles Lost 4-1 to Camrose Kodiaks
2004 Nanaimo Clippers Won 4-1 over Grand Prairie Storm
2003 Vernon Vipers Lost 4-2 to Camrose Kodiaks
2002 Chilliwack Chiefs Won 4-2 over Drayton Valley Thunder
2001 Victoria Salsa Lost 4-2 to Camrose Kodiaks
2000 Chilliwack Chiefs Lost 4-1 to Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1999 Vernon Vipers Won 4-1 over Calgary Canucks
1998 South Surrey Eagles Won 4-2 over St. Albert Saints
1997 South Surrey Eagles Won 4-1 over Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1996 Vernon Vipers Won 4-3 over St. Albert Saints
1995 Chilliwack Chiefs Lost 4-3 to Calgary Canucks
1994 Kelowna Spartans Lost 4-2 to Olds Grizzlies
1993 Kelowna Spartans Won 4-1 over Olds Grizzlies
1992 Vernon Lakers Won 4-3 over Olds Grizzlies
1991 Vernon Lakers Won 4-1 over Calgary Royals
1990 New Westminster Royals Won 4-0 over Calgary Canucks
1989 Vernon Lakers Won 4-2 over Red Deer Rustlers
1988 Vernon Lakers Lost 4-0 to Calgary Canucks
1987 Richmond Sockeyes Won 4-3 over Red Deer Rustlers
1986 Penticton Knights Won 4-1 over Calgary Canucks
1985 Penticton Knights Won 4-1 over Red Deer Rustlers
1984 Langley Eagles Won 4-2 over Fort Saskatchewan Traders
1983 Abbotsford Flyers Won 4-0 over Calgary Canucks
1982 Penticton Knights Lost 4-3 to St. Albert Saints
1981 Penticton Knights Lost 4-1 to St. Albert Saints
1980 Penticton Knights Lost 4-0 to Red Deer Rustlers
1979 N/A N/A
1978 Merritt Centennials Won 4-2 over Calgary Canucks
1977 Richmond Sockeyes Won over Calgary Canucks
1976 Richmond Sockeyes Lost 4-1 to Spruce Grove Mets
1975 Bellingham Blazers Lost 4-2 to Spruce Grove Mets
1974 Kelowna Buckaroos Won 4-1 over Red Deer Rustlers
1973 Penticton Broncos Won 4-1 over Calgary Canucks
1972 Vernon Essos Lost 4-2 to Red Deer Rustlers
1971 Penticton Broncos Lost 4-3 to Red Deer Rustlers
1970 N/A N/A
1969 Victoria Cougars Lost 4-2 to Lethbridge Sugar Kings
1968 Penticton Broncos Won 4-1 over Edmonton Western

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

Games Played: 60
Wins: 36
Losses: 11
Ties: 4
Overtime Losses: 9
Home Record: 18-5-2-5
Road Record: 18-6-2-4
Streak: Three game regular season winning streak
Last Ten Games: 8-1-0-1
Goals For: 197
Goals Against:141
Standings: 1st Place

-Vernon was ranked #9 in all of Canada in the CJHL regular season

-The Vipers powerplay was ranked 12th during the regular season

-Vernon’s penalty kill was ranked 5th during the regular season

-Blake Voth was the leagues 3rd best goaltender during the regular season posting a 25-11-3 record, with 4 shutouts and a 2.12 GAA

-Vernon had the leagues second best home record behind Powell River going 18-5-2-5 at the Wesbild Centre

-The Vipers were the BCHL’s second best road team behind the Powell River Kings, going 18-6-2-4 away from home

-The Vipers only gave up 141 goals against during the regular season, wich was also second best behind Powell River who only gave up 115 goals

-Vernon is 22-3-3-8 when scoring the games first goal

-The Vipers are 14-8-1-1 when giving up the first goal of the game

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: 960
Wins: 619
Losses: 245
Ties: 15
Overtime Losses: 84

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)

Here's a look at the Vipers regular season roster-stats:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (24-32-56)
David Robinson (32-18-50)
Bryce Kakoske (17-33-50)
Kyle Murphy (18-25-43)
John Knisley (10-25-35)
Malcolm Lyles (8-22-30)
Michael Zalewski (12-17-29)
Adam Thompson (7-22-29)
Marcus Basara (12-16-28)
Darren Nowick (9-18-27)
Patrick McGillis (13-12-25)
Aaron Hadley (9-15-24)
Steven Weinstein (5-19-24)
Brett Corkey (1-23-24)
Trevor Fitzgerald (7-11-18)
Max Mowat (2-13-15)
Ryan Renz (4-10-14)
Colton Sparrow (1-6-7)
Dane Muench (1-5-6)
Zach McPhee (3-1-4)
Philip Patenaude (0-1-1)

Kirby Halcrow With Quesnel (5-18-1 Record, 3.56 GAA)
With Vernon (10-4-1 Record, 1 Shutout, 2.19 GAA)
Blake Voth (25-11-3 Record, 4 Shutouts, 2.12 GAA)

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

Games Played: 16
Wins: 12
Losses: 4
Home Record: 5-3
Road Record: 7-1
Streak: Eight game winning streak
Last Ten Games: 8-2
Goals For: 53
Goals Against: 43

1st Round:  Bye
Interior Conference Semi-Finals:  Defeated Westside in six games
Interior Conference Finals:  Defeated Salmon Arm in six games
Fred Page Cup-BCHL Finals:  Defeated Powell River in four games

-Vernon has the 12th best powerplay in the playoffs

-The Vipers have the 6th best penalty kill during the post season

-Kirby Halcrow (11-3 Record, 2.34 GAA) is ranked 4th amongst playoff goaltenders

-Dylan Walchuk (10-5-15) & Patrick McGillis (5-9-14) are both in the playoffs top twenty scoring leaders

-Vernon is 2-4 in these playoffs when giving up the games first goal

-The Vipers are 10-0 in these playoffs when scoring first

Here's a look at the Vipers playoff roster-stats:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (10-5-15)
Patrick McGillis (5-9-14)
David Robinson (5-6-11)
Marcus Basara (4-7-11)
Bryce Kakoske (4-5-9)
Michael Zalewski (5-3-8)
Malcolm Lyles (4-4-8)
Darren Nowick (2-6-8)
Trevor Fitzgerald (3-4-7)
John Knisley (3-3-6)
Adam Thompson (1-5-6)
Aaron Hadley (2-3-5)
Colton Sparrow (2-3-5)
Steven Weinstein (0-5-5)
Brett Corkey (0-4-4)
Kyle Murphy (2-1-3)
Ryan Renz (0-3-3)
Dane Muench (1-0-1)
Max Mowat (0-1-1)
Zach McPhee (0-0-0)
Philip Patenaude (0-0-0)

Kirby Halcrow (11-3 Record, 1 Shutout, 2.34 GAA)
Blake Voth (1-1, 3.74 GAA Record)

The Vernon Franchise is 7-3 in the Doyle Cup.

2010 Vernon defeated Spruce Grove in seven games
2009 Vernon defeated Grande Prairie in four games
2003 Camrose defeated Vernon in six games
1999 Vernon defeated Calgary in five games
1996 Vernon defeated Saint Albert in seven games
1992 Vernon defeated Olds in seven games
1991 Vernon defeated Calgary in five games
1989 Vernon defeated Red Deer in six games
1988 Calgary defeated Vernon in four games
1972 Red Deer defeated Vernon in six games

Let's take a look at the Spruce Grove Saints: (Regular Season)

Games Played: 60
Wins: 50
Losses: 6
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 4
Home Record: 25-2-0-3
Road Record: 25-4-0-1
Streak: Four game regular season winning streak
Last Ten Games: 8-2-0-0
Goals For: 233
Goals Against: 106
Standings: 1st Place (1st Overall)

-Spruce Grove was ranked #1 in all of Canada in the CJHL regular season

-Spruce Grove was ranked 5th best during the regular season with the man advantage

-The Saints had the leagues 5th best penalty kill during the regular season

-Felix-Antoine Poulin (27-34-61) & Josh Koper (30-27-57) were both in the leagues top twenty in regular season scoring

-Vincenzo Marozzi (33-5-4 Record, 7 Shutouts, 1.65 GAA) & Joel Miller (20-4 Record, 2 Shutouts, 1.84 GAA) were ranked #1 & #2 as the AJHL's top two regular season goaltenders

-Spruce Grove only gave up a league low 106 goals during the regular season, wich lead the AJHL

-Spruce Grove is 37-3 when scoring the games first goal

-The Saints are 13-7 when giving up the first goal of the game

Returning Players:

Scott Allen
Josh Koper
David Glen
Josh Keizer
Bryce Van Brabant
Tim Nolte
Brett Switzer
Jesse Slobodian
Vincenzo Marozzi

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Joshua Lazowski
Nate Fleming
Adam Henderson
Jordan Draper
Kodie Curran
Dillon Simpson
Ryan Kerr
Brett Cameron
Liam Darragh
Carson Cooper
Malcolm Tomlinson
Shaun Rolling
Wes McLeod
Rory Connop
Tyler Hart
Travis Rolheiser

The Saints franchise is perhaps the most storied in the history of Canadian Junior A hockey. The only franchise remaining from the inception of the AJHL in 1963, the team began as the Edmonton Movers, and a season following a merger with the Edmonton Maple Leafs in 1972, the franchise first relocated to Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets. After three years in Spruce Grove, the franchise relocated again to nearby St. Albert to become the St. Albert Saints for the 1977-78 season. After 27 years in St. Albert, arena issues allowed the franchise to return for its second stint in Spruce Grove in 2004-05.

Over 50 former players have gone on to play in the NHL, including Mark Messier, Stu Barnes, Mike Comrie and Steve Reinprecht.

During its first stint in Spruce Grove, the Mets won the Centennial Cup 1975 as Canadian Jr. A national champions. The franchise also captured four more AJHL championships during its time in St. Albert.

The Spruce Grove Saints have yet to win the Doyle Cup since leaving St. Albert & moving back to Spruce Grove back in 2004-05. The Spruce Grove Mets won their first and second Doyle Cup Championships back to back in 1975 & 1976. In 75 Spruce Grove defeated Bellingham in six games and then defeated Richmond in five games in 1976.

For more info and stat’s visit the Saints website,

http://www.sgsaints.com/

Here's a look at the Saints regular season roster-stats:

Spruce Grove:

Felix-Antoine Poulin (27-34-61)
Josh Koper (30-27-57)
David Glen (26-27-53)
Brett Switzer (26-26-52)
Nicholas Bourgeois (19-26-45)
Sammy Spurrell (14-31-45)
Scott Allen (21-23-44)
Josh Keizer (17-22-39)
Dylan Richard (9-17-26)
Tim Nolte (10-13-23)
Mat Knoll (6-17-23)
Bryce Van Brabant (10-12-22)
Dustin Fostvelt (4-18-22)
Brent Henke (14-7-21)
Corey Chorneyko (3-17-20)
Jesse Slobodian (2-16-18)
Brian Sommers (2-14-16)
Michael Claffey (8-4-12)
Kristopher Dalton (3-7-10)
Brendan McCalpin (4-4-8)
Matthew Benning (0-7-7)
David Dotan (1-0-1)

Vincenzo Marozzi (33-5-4 Record, 7 Shutouts, 1.65 GAA)
Joel Miller (20-4 Record, 2 Shutouts, 1.84 GAA)

Let's take a look at the Spruce Grove Saints: (Playoffs)

Games Played: 13
Wins: 12
Losses: 1
Home Record: 7-0
Road Record: 5-1
Streak: Two game winning streak
Last Ten Games: 9-1
Goals For: 46
Goals Against: 21

1st Round:  Defeated Lloydminster in four games
2nd Round:  Defeated Fort McMurray in four games
Enerflex Cup Finals:  Defeated Camrose in five games
-Scott Allen (7-3-10) Josh Koper (6-4-10) & Tim Nolte (4-6-10) are all in the top twenty in AJHL playoff scoring

-Vincenzo Marozzi (12-1 Record) is the AJHL's top ranked playoff goaltender

-Spruce Grove has the 5th ranked powerplay in the playoffs

-The Saints have the 5th best penalty kill during these playoffs

-The Saints are 9-0 when scoring first in these playoffs

-Spruce Grove is 3-1 when giving up the games first goal in the playoffs
Here's a look at the Saints playoff roster-stats:

Spruce Grove:

Scott Allen (7-3-10)
Josh Koper (6-4-10)
Tim Nolte (4-6-10)
Mat Knoll (0-10-10)
Josh Keizer (6-2-8)
Felix-Antoine Poulin (3-5-8)
Corey Chorneyko (1-7-8)
Nicholas Bourgeois (3-3-6)
Michael Claffey (3-3-6)
Dustin Fostvelt (2-4-6)
David Glen (2-4-6)
Dylan Richard (2-3-5)
Bryce Van Brabant (2-3-5)
Sammy Spurrell (1-4-5)
Jesse Slobodian (0-3-3)
Brett Switzer (0-3-3)
Brent Henke (2-0-2)
Matthew Benning (0-1-1)
Brian Sommers (0-1-1)
Kristopher Dalton (0-0-0)
Brendan McCalpin (0-0-0)
David Dotan (0-0-0)

Vincenzo Marozzi (12-1 Record, 2 Shutouts, 1.46 GAA)
Joel Miller (0-0 Record)

The Spruce Grove franchise is 2-1 in the Doyle Cup.

2009 Vernon defeated Spruce Grove in seven games
1976 Spruce Grove defeated Richmond in five games
1975 Spruce Grove defeated Bellingham in six games