1996 Royal Bank Cup Recap:

After being swept in the BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals by the Coquitlam Express the Vernon Vipers will be making a record 10th trip to the Centennial Cup-Royal Bank Cup (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2011 & now 2014) as the 2014 RBC Cup hosts. This is the second time the City of Vernon will be the host team of the National Championship. In 1990 the Vernon Lakers hosted and won the 1990 Centennial Cup. The Vipers have a chance at becoming the first Junior hockey team in history to win seven National Championships.

Over the next week or two leading up to the 2014 Royal Bank Cup I thought I would take a look back and go through each of the years and give a recap on all of Vernon's previous nine trip's to the National Championship starting with the Vernon Vipers fifth appearence at the 1996 Royal Bank Cup wich was hosted by the the Melfort Mustangs and Melfort, Saskatchewan.

After new ownership and some struggling seasons the Vernon Lakers were sold once again, Duncan Wray would change the historic Lakers name to the Vernon Vipers and in 1996 win his first Royal Bank Cup. That year the historic Centennial Cup had also changed names, now was called the Royal Bank Cup. The Vernon Vipers finished in first place in the Interior Division just two pts back of the league leading Chilliwack Cheifs. The Vipers finished the season with a record of 43-13-4 wich was good for 90 pts.  The Vipers would finish 2-2 in the Round Robin before going on to win the first ever Royal Bank Cup.  Here’s a rundown on how the Vipers did through out the BCJHL’s Playoffs to advance to the teams fifth National Championship winning its 3rd National title.

Quarterfinals: Vernon defeated Nanaimo 4-1
Semifinals: Vernon defeated Cowichan Valley 4-0
BCJHL League Finals: Vernon defeated Langley 4-1
Mowat Cup: Vernon defeated Prince George (RMJHL) 3-0
Doyle Cup: Vernon defeated St. Albert (AJHL) 4-3

The Inaugural Royal Bank Cup, 1996 is the Tier II Junior "A" 1996 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.

The Royal Bank Cup was competed for by the winners of the Doyle Cup, Anavet Cup, Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Fred Page Cup and a host city.

The tournament was hosted by the Melfort Mustangs and Melfort, Saskatchewan.

The Playoffs: Round Robin

Rank Team League Ticket W-L GF GA

1 x-Melfort Mustangs SJHL Host 4-0 28 5
2 x-Newmarket 87's OPJHL Dudley Hewitt Cu 2-2 18 22
3 x-Vernon Vipers BCHL Doyle Cup 2-2 17 16
4 x-Yorkton Terriers SJHL Anavet Cup 1-3 12 19
5 Moncton Beavers MJAHL Fred Page Cup 1-3 9 22

Note: x- denotes teams who have advanced to the semi-final.

Results

Melfort Mustangs defeat Yorkton Terriers 7-1
Newmarket 87's defeat Vernon Vipers 7-5
Melfort Mustangs defeat Moncton Beavers 5-0
Newmarket 87's defeat Yorkton Terriers 5-2
Vernon Vipers defeat Moncton Beavers 6-3
Melfort Mustangs defeat Vernon Vipers 5-1
Yorkton Terriers defeat Moncton Beavers 8-2
Melfort Mustangs defeat Newmarket 87's 11-3
Moncton Beavers defeat Newmarket 87's 4-3
Vernon Vipers defeat Yorkton Terriers 5-1

Semifinals:

Melfort Mustangs 7
Yorkton Terriers 3

Vernon Vipers 7
Newmarket 87’s 4

Royal Bank Cup Final: (Live On TSN)

Vernon Vipers 2
Melfort Mustnags 0

Awards

Most Valuable Player: Serge Bourgeois (Moncton Beavers)

Top Scorer: Jason Duda (Melfort Mustangs)

Most Sportsmanlike Player: Valeri Ermolov (Melfort Mustangs)

Top Goalie: Joel Laing (Melfort Mustangs)

Top Forward: Jeff Cheeseman (Vernon Vipers)

Top Defenceman: Curtis Doell (Melfort Mustangs)

Role of League Champions

AJHL: St. Albert Saints
BCHL: Vernon Vipers
CJHL: Cornwall Colts
MJHL: St. James Canadians
MJAHL: Dartmouth Oland Exports
NOJHL: Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats
OPJHL: Newmarket 87's
QPJHL: Contrecoeur Eperviers
RMJHL: Prince George Spruce Kings
SJHL: Melfort Mustangs

Vernon Vipers Roster:

Jeff Cheeseman
Doug Sheppard
Sjon Wynia
Jeff Scissons
Blaine McCauley
Dustin Whitecotton
Josh MacNevin
Brent Dodginghorse
Brad Cook
Sean Patchell
Garth Gartner
John Fife
Adam Stewart
Brian Finch
Kevin McElroy
Nathan Borega
Chad Pounder
Rich Vetter
Wayne Lougheed
Ryan Deacon
Troy Smith
Chris Gaudette
Kevin Danbrook
Igor Maydebura
Mike Millar
Rob Mace
Chad Cammock
Beau Riedel
Todd Laurin

Owner & President Duncan Wray
GM & Head Coach Rob Bremner
Assistant Coach Mike Auerbach
Assistant Coach Troy Mick

For stats & rosters on Vernon Junior Hockey History, Check out Paul's Vernon Franchise website

http://members.shaw.ca/vernonfranchise/index.html