Thursday, May 16, 2013

Vipers With Some Tough Decisions Regarding Roster:

Since the January 10th BCHL Trade Deadline Viper fans have been waiting to hear who the players are coming back the other way, in the Vipers deals on deadline day.  Well last week the Vipers announced who was coming to Vernon in the Aaron Hadley-Nanaimo trade from January.

Coming to Vernon is 19 yr old forward Michael McNicholas and 20 yr old defenceman Josh Bryan from the Nanaimo Clippers.  McNicholas finished his first and only season with the Clippers playing in just 35 regular season games collecting (10-22-32) while only playing in just over half the regular season, McNicholas put up pretty good numbers.  If McNicholas was on the Vipers this past season he would have been second in scoring behind forward Mason Blacklock.  With the addition of McNicholas this has the Vipers with a possible twelve forwards for next season. 

Michael McNicholas's Player Profile:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/rosters_profile.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&teamID=339740&playerID=932602

Josh Bryan comes to Vernon as the now the 9th twenty yr old on the Vipers roster.  (Jason Bird, Liam Board, Geoff Crisfield, Brendan Persley, Ryan Renz, Braeden Russell, Colton Sparrow & Austin Smith).  The league limit is six twenty yr olds, so atleast three have to go.  The Vipers coaching staff-management has some tough choices to make before the start of the 2013-14 regular season.  Josh Bryan comes to Vernon as the seventh defenceman.  Bryan a four year veteran d-man has played the last four seasons with Victoria and Nanaimo.  Bryan has some good size, experience and put up 30 pts this season with the Clippers. 

Josh Bryan's Player Profile:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/rosters_profile.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&teamID=339740&playerID=573103

On the same day the Vipers announced who was coming to Vernon from the Nanaimo trade this past season the Vipers also signed two prospects for next season. 

Coming to Vernon is Mark Hamilton, a defenceman rated 191st among North American skaters by Central Scouting at this years NHL Entry Draft.  Hamilton has good size, a former captain will bring leadership, a physical presence and some offence to Vernon's lineup.  Hamilton sounds very promising but will only be with the Vipers for one season, after heading off to the University of Massachusetts for the following season.

USHR has Hamilton ranked as the 7th best Junior this past season,

http://www.ushr.com/news/20111201

In the other signing the Vipers have landed 16 yr old forward Tyler Povelofskie.  Povelofskie collected 32 pts with Major Midget Prince George Cougars.  At 5'11 Povelofskie played one game with the Prince George Spruce Kings last season & was an "AP" with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs this season.  At just 16 yrs old you never really know what kind of a player your getting, so its hard to tell until you can get a better look at him during Training Camp and into some BCHL games.

Here is a story on Povelofskie,

http://www.bclocalnews.com/sports/134430698.html?mobile=true

Tyler Povelofskie's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=153007

The Vipers roster is now sitting at twenty two players.  With players still coming to Vernon in the Adam Tambellini trade from January the Vipers roster will grow once again.  Once the Eagles season comes to an end Im sure we will hear who will be coming to Vernon from Surrey.  You can also bet the Vipers coaching staff will be making some tough decisions-trades over the summer regarding the Vipers roster.

I wonder wich three twenty year olds will be shipped out? And will the Vipers keep any of the remaining six?  Will the Vipers keep both goaltenders?  You can bet both Danny Todosychuk and Austin Smith both would like to play and play on a regular night.  Both goaltenders proved this season either of the two are capable of being a #1.  The question is do the Vipers keep both? Austin Smith will be playing his final season of Junior hockey while Danny Todosychuk still has two seasons remaining.  The Vipers could go with both goaltenders as long as both are happy, this setting up Vernon with Todosychuk as the #1 twenty yr old the following season.  Up front will also be another tough decision.  There are a few forwards who in my mind didnt play very well-or live up to expectations this past season.  Who will be shipped out over the off season to make room for some of the new kids coming to town?  You can bet the Vipers arnt finished with roster moves, as will hear more on the clubs roster over the summer-heading into Training Camp.

Here is a look at the Vipers current and possible roster to date.

Defence:

Jason Bird  (93)
Mark Hamilton  (94)
Josh Bryan  (93)
Geoff Crisfield  (93)
Bryce Eviston  (94)
Ryan Renz  (93)
Michael Statchuk  (94)

Forwards:

Mason Blacklock  (94)
Tyler Povelofskie  (96)
Liam Board  (93)
Dexter Dancs  (95)
TJ Dumonceaux  (94)
Craig Martin  (95)
Mitch McAllister  (94)
Logan Mick  (96)
Brendan Persley  (93)
Michael Roberts  (95)
Braeden Russell  (93)
Colton Sparrpw  (93)
Michael McNicholas  (94)

Goaltenders:

Austin Smith  (93)
Danny Todosychuk  (94)

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