Vipers Trade Mowat But Still Need To Aquire A Veteran Goaltender:

Last week the Vipers made their first trade of the off season, wich saw second year defenceman & Vernon product Max Mowat head to the Trail Smoke Eaters in a trade that was continued from last season.  At last years BCHL trade deadline the Vipers aquired 20 yr old forward Clayton Chessa from the Smokies for future considerations before sending Chessa to the Nanaimo Clippers for 20 yr old Clippers captain Colton Cyr.  Mowat is the future considerations part of that trade going back the other way. 

In Mowat Trail is getting a pretty good two year BCHL veteran who isnt the biggest kid but plays steady, can skate and move the puck well but does need to bulk up a little as well as work on his defensive play-coverage.  Mowat who has seen his fair share of injuries-concusions over his two years with the Vipers hope can stay in the Smoke Eaters lineup and contribute.  Towards the end of the regular season I was talking with some friends who also have season tickets and we all wondered if Mowat would be 100% to return to the Vipers this season or with the few concusions even be able to play hockey this coming season.  Great to see Max is healthy and Id like to wish him all the best in Trail.

With the loss of Mowat the Vipers now have twelve players returning from last years club that missed the BCHL playoffs for the first time in ten years. 

Defence:

Brett Corkey (92)
Geoff Crisfield (93)
Marc Hetnik (92)
Turner Lawson (94)
Ryan Renz (93)

Forwards:

Aaron Hadley (93)
Riley Hunt (95)
Brendan Persley (93)
Jedd Soleway (94)
Colton Sparrow (93)
Adam Tambellini (94)

Goaltenders:

Danny Todosychuk (94)

The BCHL website has Mike Zalewski (92) & John Knisley (92) both twenty year olds who were going to University this coming season listed on the Vipers roster.  Is this a mistake or do the Vipers have two solid veteran twenty year olds returning for their final season of junior hockey?

Looking back at the Mowat trade, the Vipers made a several trades involving future considerations.  Will the Vipers have to give up any other players off their current roster to teams who they were involved in trades with last year or will the teams Vernon sent players to owe the Vipers any players in return?

Let's take a look at some of these deals,

27-Jun-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club acquires the CJHL playing rights of Luke Juha (93)(D) from the Burlington Cougars Hockey Club of the OJHL in exchange for future considerations. 

02-Aug-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Dane Muench (92)(F), Phillip Patenaude (91)(D) and future considerations to the Kindersley Klippers Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Jarryd Ten Vannholt and Justin Elliot.

19-Sep-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Jarryd Ten Vaanholt (91)(F) to the Victoria Grizzles Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations. 
28-Nov-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Marcus Basara (93)(F), Connor Hartley (93)(F) and future considerations to the Okotoks Oilers Hockey Club of the AJHL in exchange for the playing rights of Ben Camache (91)(F).

29-Nov-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Alex Hagen (92)(C) to the Surrey Eagles Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

12-Dec-11 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Zach McPhee (93)(F) and future considerations to the Victoria Grizzlies Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Sean Robertson (91)(D).

07-Jan-12 The Vernon Vipers Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Peter McMullen (F)(93) to the Langley Rivermen Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.

Looking at the Vipers current roster I think the Vipers need to go out and aquire a veteran goaltender.  Ive always said that you need that veteran 19 or 20 yr old goaltender between the pipes if you want to make a long playoff run.  The question is who do the Vipers trade?  Picking up a veteran goaltender isnt cheap unless Duncan Wray wants to open up his wallet and pay cash for one.  I also think the Vipers made a mistake last season.  The Vipers knew Kirby Halcrow was finished his junior career at the end of the season, so they bring in a young 16 yr old Danny Todosychuk.  I like Todosychuk and no offence to the kid but now you need to go out and make a trade for that veteran goaltender.  They could have easily brought in a 18 yr old as Halcrow's backup last season, wich would make him your 19 yr old starter this season.  Another question, Todosychuk attended the WHL Swift Current Broncos camp last August, is he returning to Vernon or is he looking at the WHL?  Also if the Vipers do pick up a veteran goaltender, is Todosychuk willing to sit on the bench again for a second season?  Todosychuk knows Vernon is hosting the 2014 RBC Cup, if he sticks around another season as the teams backup, you have a 19 yr old Todosychuk maybe as your #1 for the RBC Cup.

Still looking at trades the Vipers have just two twenty yr old players (Brett Corkey & Marc Hetnik) will Jason Williamson go out and aquire a few more twenty year old players before the start of the new season?  Another question, with the 2014 RBC Cup just two years away what kind of lineup-roster will the Vipers have for this years team?  Will they go with a younger team this season, take their lumps and prepare and build a strong team ready for the RBC Cup in two years?