Vipers With A Busy Off Season Continue To Build For RBC Cup:

Over the last seven to eight years the Vipers have been one of the quietest teams in the league when it came to making player announcements etc over the summer.  The Vipers would always announce a new recruit or two just after a season ended and then maybe announcing another one over the summer before one or two before the start of training camp, but that was it.  So far this off season the Vipers have been one of the busiest teams in the league with player announcements-trades etc.  All kinds of new recruits, trades etc coming from the Vipers with still two months until training camp and the Vipers still having to trade two 20 yr olds before the start of the season.  This is what I like to see!  In previous years its frustrating being a diehard fan not knowing any of the new players coming in.  I wish the Vipers would keep the diehard fans more intuned with player announcements etc through out the summer months.

Over the last two weeks the Vipers have three players committed to play in Vernon for the 2013-14 BCHL season.  Comming into town will be 18 year old defenceman Kenny Citron, 18 year old forward Matt Saharchuk and 17 yr old forward Liam Coughlin.  The Vipers also made a huge announcement on Friday that former North Okanagan Knights Head Coach-GM Kris Mallette will be joining the Vipers as Associate Coach.

What do you we know about all four new Vernon Vipers.  Well I did a little searching and this is what I found.

Citron is from Hartsdale New York, listed at 6'1 195 lbs  Was captain of Team Comcast last season that competed in the USA Nationals.  Citron was selected 236th overall by the Lincoln Stars in the 2013 USHL Draft.  Citron has committed to Colgate University for the 2015-16 season.  Citron was heavily recruited by Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Harvard, Cornell, & Union.

Here is an article on Citron committing to Colagte University,

http://www.pointstreaksites.com/view/teamcomcastaaahockey/news/news_57060

Kenny Citron's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=130806

Matt Saharchuk is from Fort St. James BC, listed at 6'2 200 lbs  In 50 games with the North Okanagan Knights this season collected 32 goals & 28 assists.  Saharchuk played two games as an "AP" with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks this past season. 

Matt Saharchuk's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=163107

Liam Coughlin is from South Boston, listed at 6'4 195 lbs  In 21 games with Catholic Memorial high school this past season collected 27 goals & 24 assists.  Coughlin was named Massachusetts Division 1 player of the Year and was taken 30th overall by Dubuque of the USHL. Coughlin attended the Montreal Canadiens Pro Draft Camp at the beginning of June and is garnering a lot of attention for the upcoming NHL draft.

Here is a article on Coughlin being taken in the USHL Draft,

http://bostonherald.com/sports/high_school/in_the_slot/2013/05/coughlin_pinho_selected_in_ushl_draft

Here is a article on Liam Coughlin,

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/21617/player-perspective-cms-liam-coughlin

Liam Coughlin talks after a Catholic Memorial victory,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieDylV6FlPM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grYN525mhhQ

Liam Coughlin's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=248303

Kris Mallette is from Kelowna BC, played one game with the Nanaimo Clippers back in 1995-96 before playing five seasons as one of the WHL's tough guys with Kelowna and Moose Jaw before finishing his final ten years in the Minor Pros with Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Asheville, Elmira, Colorado, Youngstown, Laredo and Flint.  Mallette was selected 62nd overall in Round 3 at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.  Maellette began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach with the North Okanagan Knights in the 2010-11 season before taking over as head Coach-GM during the 2011-12 season.   

Kris Mallette's Players-Coaches Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=19340

I like the sounds of all three new recruits coming in for next season.  The biggest thing that I like is their size, all three are pretty big kids.  I was a little surprised the Vipers would bring in three 18 yr olds with the RBC Cup next season.  Looking at the Vipers roster, I thought they would bring in a few more 19 yr olds.  From reading comments on all three kids it sounds like all three young men are very skilled and well liked by there former coaches-teams.  The Vipers now with 25 players still need to trade two 20 yr olds before the start of next season.  Will the Vipers bring in anymore new recruits or bring in new players via the trade route?  Time will tell I guess but the Vipers coaching staff has some tough decissions to be made.  The Vipers returning players from this season better be ready and mentally prepared to battle and compete for there jobs at Training camp in August as nobody has been given a job on next seasons roster just yet. 

I was thrilled to hear the Vipers have brought in Kris Mallette behind the bench.  This is huge news!  For the third season in a row the Vipers are bringing in a new Assistant Coach.  I said back at the Christmas break that Mallette has proven he is a winner and can be a Head Coach or Assistant Coach in this leage, he is now ready to move up in the hockey world. I knew he would be looking to jump up to Jr A as a head Coach or Assistant Coach this coming season. I think the Vipers are very lucky to get him, as several other teams Im sure were calling him.   Not only will Mallette help with the Vipers struggling defence that has shown the last two seasons but will also add some experience behind the Viper bench.  Jason Williamson heading into just his third season as the Vipers Head Coach-GM still has to prove to Vernon fans hes the man for the job and can get the job done.  Williamson and the Vipers have missed the playoffs the last two years under Williamson and fans are wanting Williamson's head on a platter.  Willy has to get off to a good start next season and show some improvement this coming year.  Willy and his Viper teams have struggled the last two years and never really improved or got better as the seasons went along.  Uncosistant play and making the same mistakes at the start of the season and still late in the season, shows me the players arnt buying into the systems.  Mallette who did a heck of a job with the Knights can hopefully bring in some winning experience behind the bench and into the Viper dressing room.  The Vipers have a young coaching staff with all under five years or less of coaching.  Mallette a former d-man and one of the toughest guys in the WHL I hope can bring some toughness into the Vipers lineup, stressing to be more physical and play with a rugged style.  

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

Defence:

Jason Bird (93)
Mark Hamilton (94)
Josh Bryan (93)
Kenny Citron (95)
Bryce Eviston (94)
Ryan Renz (93)
Michael Statchuk (94)
Jordan Klimek (95)

Forwards:

Mason Blacklock (94)
Tyler Povelofskie (96)
Liam Board (93)
Demico Hannoun (95)
Dexter Dancs (95)
TJ Dumonceaux (94)
Craig Martin (95)
Mitch McAllister (94)
Liam Coughlin  (95)
Logan Mick (96)
Brendan Persley (93)
Matt Saharchuk  (95)
Braeden Russell (93)
Colton Sparrow (93)
Michael McNicholas (94)

Goaltenders:

Austin Smith (93)
Danny Todosychuk (94)