Vipers To Shake Up Lines:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers to shake up lines
               
by  Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star

Sep 30, 2015

On paper, the Vernon Vipers appear to be a one-line hockey team.

Head coach/GM Mark Ferner will address that fact as the 3-3-0-1 Vipers begin a three-game B.C. Hockey League road trek Friday on the Sunshine Coast versus the Powell River Kings.

Vernon went 1-1 in the fifth Bauer Showcase last weekend in Chilliwack, rallying for a 4-3 double overtime win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals Sunday morning after losing 3-2 to the unbeaten Wenatchee Wild Saturday afternoon.

The Vipers’ No. 1 unit of Liam Finlay, Odeen Tufto and Steven Jandric has accounted for half of the team’s 27 goals through seven games. Aside from d-man Bo Pellah, who scored against the Caps, the threesome represented Vernon’s entire offence at the Showcase.

“Yah, we’re going to mix the lines up a bit and get some guys going,” said Ferner. “We’ve gotta get Jagger (second-year F Williamson, 17) going. He’s had no luck. He’s having pucks bounce off his stick and stuff like that, things that normally happen to a 16-year-old.”

The Vipers gave up a shorthanded snipe to Patrick Geary and a powerplay goal to Jared Domin while falling behind 2-0 after 20 minutes against Cowichan Valley.

Darien Craighead made it 3-0 Caps five minutes into the second frame before the Vipers big line went to work.

Tufto, from Jandric and d-man Mitchell Oliver, responded midway through the second. Jandric, with a quick release top cheddar, from Oliver and Griffin James, pulled Vernon within one 4:34 into the third.

Finlay registered the equalized eight minutes later with Jandrick and Tufto assisting.

After a tight-checking 4-on-4 overtime session, Tufto beat Cowichan goalie Lane Michasiw with 23 seconds left in 3-on-3 play. Finlay drew the helper.

Jandric, an 18-year-old rookie out of Prince George, earned first star.

“He played well,” said Ferner. “He did the things we need to him to do and that’s skate hard down the wing. He plays a north-south game and those other two play east-west. He has a real good compete (level) to his game.”

Ferner said the Vipers got a huge lift when alternate captain Riley Brandt steamrolled a Cap near the Vernon bench with a monster check late in the middle period. Geary stepped in and took on Brandt in a spirited scrap.

Andrew Shortridge, who returned to the lineup after suffering a concussion in practice last week, also gave the Vipers some inspiration with a few huge stops when the 3-1-0-1 Caps were pressing for the 4-0 killshot goal.

The expansion Wild (5-0) matched the Vipers in speed as they outshot Vernon 13-2 in the first period and enjoyed eight powerplays to Vernon’s two.

“They’re quick, they play with pace,” said Ferner, on Wenatchee. “They’re on ya so you have move the puck in a hurry. Their dee aren’t overly mobile, but they move the puck and their goalie is good.”

The Wild got 19 stops from Detroit Red Wings draft Chase Perry, none better than the cross-crease dazzler when he denied Pellah on a 2-on-1.

Perry was a fifth-round choice of Detroit in 2014 and played last year for the woeful Colorado College Tigers. He was previously with Wenatchee in the NAHL.

Troy Conzo, Hunter Alden  and Tyler Rockwell counted Wenatchee goals, while Jandric and Jimmy Lambert responded for the Snakes.

Viper veteran Jarrod Schamerhorn recorded 36 saves to earn third star. Vernon d-men Austin Cho, for boarding, and Mac Ferner, for charging, both took majors

SNAKE BITES: Finlay and Cho are listed on the NHL Central Scouting ‘Players to Watch’ preliminary list of talent for the 2016 entry draft. D Dante Fabbro and C Tyson Jost, both of the Penticton Vees, F Colin Grannary of the Merritt Centennials C Ty Westgard of Surrey Eagles, F Kyle Betts of Powell River and F Kohen Olischefski and D Dennis Cholowski of the Chilliwack Chiefs. also made the rankings...The Vipers are fourth in the Interior, three points back of the first-place Vees...Vernon product Cole Woodliffe has signed with the Weyburn Red Wings in the SJHL. A late cut of the Cents, Woodliffe rang up four goals in a 5-3 Summerland Steam win over the host Spokane Braves in KIJHL play on Sept. 19.

NHL Central Scouting's Player Rankings Include Cho & Finlay:

This is posted on the BCHL website:

NHL Central Scouting's player rankings include nine BCHLers

Tuesday, September 29, 2015 - Submitted by BCHL Media

NHL Central Scouting has released its preliminary player rankings and nine BCHLers are included in the list.

Overall, there are 19 players from the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) that are rated, with the Ontario Junior Hockey League having five players listed.

The BCHL players rated are as follows:

Liam Finlay, F, Vernon Vipers
Austin Cho, D, Vernon Vipers
Ty Westgard, F, Surrey Eagles
Kyle Betts, F, Powell River Kings
Tyson Jost, F, Penticton Vees
Dante Fabbro, D, Penticton Vees
Colin Grannary, F, Merritt Centennials
Kohen Olischefski, F, Chilliwack Chiefs
Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack Chiefs.

CLICK below for the complete list from NHL Central Scouting

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=780838&navid=nhl:topheads

Both Jost and Fabbro are currently listed as 'A' prospects, indicating potential first or second-round picks at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. All other BCHLers listed got a 'C' prospect grade, indicating a possible fifth-round pick or lower.

There were also two BCHL graduates listed by Central Scouting. Former Chilliwack Chiefs defenceman Vincent Desharnais, now a freshman at Providence College, got a mention as did Powell River Kings alum Carmine Buono who is in his freshman campaign at the University of Massachusetts.

The 2016 NHL Entry Draft will be held June 24 and 25 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

Griffins Name Former Vernon Lakers Captain Ramsay New Assistant Coach:

Former Vernon Lakers forward-captain Bruce Ramsay is stepping down as Head Coach-GM of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Tulsa Oilers, has been named the new Assistant Coach of the American Hockey League's (AHL) Grand Rapids Griffins.

Ramsay spent the past six seasons with the Tulsa Oilers. Five seasons with the Oilers in the Central Hockey League (CHL) before the team moved to the ECHL last season.  Ramsay has 382 victories as Head Coach with five different teams (St. Pete, Port Huron, Muskegon Fury, Muskegon Lumberjacks & Tulsa) in five different leagues (ACHL, UHL, IHL, CHL & ECHL).  Ramsay played one season in Vernon helping the 1989-90 Vernon Lakers win their first Centennial Cup in a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over the highly favorite New Westminster Royals. In 53 games with the Lakers Ramsay collected (11-goals-11-assists-22-points). 

Bruce Ramsay's Player-Coaching Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=6007

This is posted on the Griffins website:

RAMSAY AND SIMON JOIN GRIFFINS' COACHING STAFF

06/29/2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Monday announced the hiring of Bruce Ramsay and Ben Simon as assistant coaches for the Grand Rapids Griffins. In addition, assistant coach Mike Knuble, goaltending coach Jeff Salajko and video coach Bill LeRoy will reprise their coaching roles with Grand Rapids.

Ramsay, 46, has been the head coach of the Tulsa Oilers in the ECHL and Central Hockey League for the past six seasons, compiling a 185-180-35 record in 400 regular season games from 2009-15. Most recently, Ramsay’s Oilers earned a 37-29-3-3 record in their first ECHL season and qualified for the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs, where they fell to the eventual champion Allen Americans in five games during the first round.

A native of Dryden, Ontario, Ramsay previously served as an assistant under Griffins head coach Todd Nelson from 2004-06, when the duo led the UHL’s Muskegon Fury to the Colonial Cup during their first season together and a 51-18-7 regular season record in their subsequent campaign. After Nelson departed for an assistant coaching position with the Chicago Wolves, Ramsay succeeded his colleague as the head coach of the Fury and produced an 84-56-12 regular season record in two seasons (2006-08) behind the bench. In all, Ramsay’s head coaching career spans 12 seasons between stints with the ACHL’s St. Pete/Winstom-Salem Parrots (2002-03), the UHL’s Port Huron Beacons (2002-04), the Fury, the IHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks (2008-09) and the Oilers.

Ramsay and Nelson were both members of the Griffins during the team’s inaugural season in 1996-97, and Ramsay collected nine goals and 14 assists in 175 games over three seasons (1996-99) with the team. Ramsay’s 781 penalty minutes as a Griffin rank second all-time in franchise history, and he’s one of just three Grand Rapids players to ever twice eclipse 300 PIM, producing 306 PIM in 1996-97 and leading the team with 310 PIM in 1997-98. In 12 seasons as a professional player (1991-02, 2004-05), Ramsay amassed 245 points (74-171—245) and 3,432 PIM in 677 games.

Simon, 37, recently concluded the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies and helped lead the team to a 40-27-9-0 regular season record. During the quarterfinals of the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Griffins defeated the Marlies to become the 11th team in AHL history to win a best-of-five series after trailing 0-2.

Simon’s coaching career began in 2010-11 as the head coach of the EIHL’s Sheffield Steelers. He earned a 43-10-0-1 record (0.806) and led the team to the EIHL regular season championship, before spending the following two seasons as an assistant coach with the Rockford IceHogs. The Shaker Heights, Ohio, native then posted a 41-23-4-4 record as the head coach of the Cincinnati Cyclones during 2013-14, leading his team to the Kelly Cup Finals and falling to the Alaska Aces in six games.

Including Knuble, Nelson and Ramsay, all four of Grand Rapids’ coaches are former Griffins, as Simon notched nine points (4-5—9) in 21 games with the team in 2006-07. Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round (110th overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Simon logged 81 NHL games with Atlanta and Columbus during his 11-year playing career.

This is posted on the ECHL website:

RAMSAY DEPARTS OILERS FOR AHL

June 29, 2015

TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Oilers announced that Bruce Ramsay is stepping down from his position as Head Coach and will accept an assistant coaching position with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.

Ramsay will be re-united in Grand Rapids with his long-time friend and former teammate, Todd Nelson, who was recently named the new Head Coach of the Griffins. Ramsay and Nelson played together in Grand Rapids during the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons and helped lead the Muskegon Fury (UHL) to a Colonial Cup Championship in the 2001-02 campaign. Nelson became the Muskegon Head Coach in 2003 and Ramsay served as his assistant from 2004-06. The duo guided the Fury to a Colonial Cup title in 2005.

“This is an incredible opportunity for me and my family and I want to thank Todd Nelson and the entire Griffins organization for believing in my abilities,” said Ramsay. “Although I am excited for the next step in my career, it is very difficult to leave Tulsa. I am extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish in six years and the Oilers’ front office staff, players, and certainly the fans, will always hold a special place for me and my family. We are so grateful for their support and their friendship.”

In six seasons behind the Tulsa bench, Ramsay guided the Oilers to three playoff appearances. The 46-year-old compiled an overall record of 185-178-35 (.507) and ranks second on the Oilers’ all-time list of regular season wins, playoff wins, and total games coached. In 2011, Ramsay coached the Oilers to their first playoff series victory in 17 years. He led the 2013-14 Oilers to a 12-win improvement over the previous season and in 2014-15, Tulsa’s first season in the ECHL, Ramsay’s squad posted 37 victories, the second-highest win total in team history.

“I want to say a special thank you to our owners, Rodney, Brandon, and Johnny Steven, my friend and General Manager, Taylor Hall, our former owner Jeff Lund, and every single one of our players for making these last six years the best years of my life,” Ramsay remarked. “The owners and the staff were always behind us and gave me the tools to succeed and improve. I feel so fortunate to have the privilege to coach so many outstanding players and I thank each and every one of them for their hard work, their sacrifice, and their respect.”

Lambert Listed On Blades Prospects List:

Alan Caldwell over at small thoughts at large (WHL Blog) has posted every Western Hockey League team's 2015-16 prospects list. This only include players who were not WHL regulars last year. If a kid played more than 20-30 games or so in the WHL last year, he's not on these lists.

The WHL Saskatoon Blades have Vernon Vipers rookie forward Jimmy Lambert as one of fourty one players listed on their 2015-16 prospects list.  In 7 games this season with the Vipers Lambert has (2-goals-4-assists-6-points).  

Jimmy Lambert's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=213106

Mavericks Sign Former Vernon Viper Twins:

The East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Missouri Mavericks have signed former Vernon Vipers forwards-twins Connor and Kellen Jones.

Connor & Kellen both played four years in Vernon (2006-2010) played their first pro-season last year with two different teams in two different leagues.  The Jones Twins started last season with the American Hockey League (AHL) Oklahoma City Barons also spent time with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Bakersfield Condors. After four years at Quinnipiac University, the Jones Twins signed their first pro contract with the Barons on April 3rd 2014. The Barons assigned Connor & Kellen to Bakersfield after Training camp last year before the pair went back and fourth between the ECHL & AHL.

Connor played In 163 regular season games with the Vipers collecting (80-goals-118-assists-198-points) Connor also is the Vipers all-time franchise points leader (regular season & playoffs) with 228 & all-time franchise goals leader (regular season & playoffs) with 95.

Kellen played in 154 regular season games with the Vipers collecting (39-goals-134-assists-173-points). Kellen is also the all-time franchise assists leader (regular season & playoffs) with 150. Kellen was drafted in Round 7 of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft #202 overall by the Edmonton Oilers.

Connor Jones Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38011

Kellen Jones Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38013

This is posted on the Mavericks website:

MAVS SIGN JONES BROTHERS

09/24/2015 

MAVERICKS SIGN JONES BROTHERS

Missouri Agrees to Terms with Kellen and Connor Jones

INDEPENDENCE, MO (Sept. 24, 2015) — The Missouri Mavericks announced Thursday afternoon that they have signed forwards Kellen Jones and Connor Jones to standard player contracts ahead of their 2015-16 season in the ECHL.

“Kellen and Connor are two very skilled players who know how to put the puck in the net,” said Richard Matvichuk, Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations.  “Both of these guys have played over forty games at the next level, and we are very excited to get them in Mavericks jerseys.”

Twin brothers Kellen Jones and Connor Jones hail from Montrose, British Columbia.  The 5’10”, 185lb forwards both notched significant playing time with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Oklahoma City Barons and the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL) during the 2014-15 season, combining for seventy-six (76) points (26G,50A).

Kellen was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers (Round 7, 202 Overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

“We are very excited to be a part of the Missouri Mavericks organization and the chance to play for Coach Matvichuk this fall,” said Kellan Jones.

Both Kellan and Connor have spent their entire playing careers together, from junior hockey with the Vernon Vipers (BCHL), four seasons at Quinnipiac University (ECAC), and professionally with the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) and Bakersfield Condors (ECHL). 

“We’re really looking forward to getting to town, meeting the fans, and the season getting started,” added Connor Jones.

The Missouri Mavericks 2015 Training Camp opens on Friday, Oct. 2nd, leading up to the Mavs’ annual Black-Orange Intra-Squad Scrimmage event on Thursday, Oct. 8th at Independence Events Center.  Admission is free with suggested donation to Community Services League upon entrance.  More event details are available at MissouriMavericks.com

BCHL Showcase: Vernon 4 Cowichan 3 Double Overtime

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

1-0 Cowichan Valley Capitals at 4:25 (SH) - Patrick Geary from Matthew Hudie
2-0 Cowichan Valley Capitals at 10:29 (PP) - Jared Domin from Connor Russell

PERIOD 2

3-0 Cowichan Valley Capitals at 5:01 - Darien Craighead from Jacob Switzer and Ryan Hogg
3-1 Vernon Vipers at 10:02 - Odeen Tufto from Steven Jandric and Mitchell Oliver

PERIOD 3

3-2 Vernon Vipers at 4:34 - Steven Jandric from Mitchell Oliver and Griffin James
3-3 Vernon Vipers at 12:22 - Liam Finlay from Steven Jandric and Odeen Tufto

OVERTIME PERIOD 1

No Scoring

OVERTIME PERIOD 2

4-3 Vernon Vipers at 0:23 - Odeen Tufto from Liam Finlay

Vernon outshot Cowichan 38-35 Andrew Shortridge made 32 saves in the win, while Lane Michasiw made 34 saves in the loss.

BCHL Boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1477090&link=bchl

Jeff Sargeant's Cowichan Capitals Blog,

https://sargeantspeak.wordpress.com/

Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Blog,

http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/

Game Preview: BCHL Showcase: Cowichan vs Vernon:

Cowichan (3-1-0-0) @ Vernon (2-3-0-1) 10am

Today is first of three meetings between the Vernon Vipers & Cowichan Capitals. The Vipers won the season series last year vs Cowichan going 2-1-0-0

Last Game:

Saturday, September 26th Wenatchee defeated Vernon 3-2
Saturday, September 26th West Kelowna defeated Cowichan 2-1

Next Game:

Friday, October 2nd Vernon @ Powell River
Friday, October 2nd Cowichan @ Prince George

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 434-237-20-21

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 239-96-11-11 at home

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 196-132-9-10 on the road

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 17-5-1-0 vs. Cowichan 

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon has outscored Cowichan 96-62

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 8-1-1-0 at home vs. Cowichan 

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 8-3-0-0 in Cowichan 

Vernon's last win at home vs Cowichan was a 2-1 victory on Saturday, October 4th 2014

Cowichan's last win in Vernon was a 4-2 win on Saturday, October 2nd 2010

Vernon's last win in Cowichan was a 3-2 victory on Saturday, December 7th 2013

Cowichan's last win at home vs Vernon was a 5-3 win on Saturday, February 7th 2015

Vernon went 2-0-0-0 vs Cowichan Valley last season

Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The Vernon Vipers wrap up their second and final game at the BCHL Showcase vs the Cowichan Capitals. The Vipers are coming off a 3-2 loss Saturday afternoon to the expansion Wenatchee Wild. Today is the second game of a current five game road trip, where Vernon has lost two straight away from home. The Vipers are facing a team from the Mainland-Island Division for a fourth straight game. Vernon sits 5th in the Interior Division one point up on Trail and two points back of Merritt & West Kelowna. The Vipers & Capitals will meet three times this season.

Steven Jandric (5-3-8) leads the team lead in goals with eight while Odeen Tufto (2-7-9) & Liam Finlay (2-7-9) share the team lead in points with nine each.

Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Venom Blog

http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/

Vernon Vipers 2015-16 regular season Stats:

Games Played: 6
Wins: 2
Losses: 3
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 1-1-0-1
Road Record: 1-2-0-0
Overtime Record: 0-1
Record vs Interior Division: 1-2-0-0
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 1-1-0-1
When the Vipers score first: 2-1-0-1
When the opponents score first: 0-2-0-0
Leading after 1st Period: 2-0-0-0
Tied after 1st Period: 0-2-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 0-1-0-1
Leading after 2nd Period: 2-0-0-0
Tied after 2nd Period: 0-1-0-0
Trailing after 2nd Period: 0-2-0-0
Out shooting Opponents: 1-1-0-1
Out shot by Opponents: 1-2-0-0
One goal games: 0-2-0-1
Goals For: 23
Goals Against: 20
Place: 5th Place
Streak: One game losing streak

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Liam Finlay (97)
Jagger Williamson (98)
Colton McCarthy (96)
Riley Brandt (96)
Nicholas Rasovic (96)
Mitchell Oliver (97)
Jarrod Schamerhorn (95)

Vernon Vipers Departing & traded players from last years team:

Liam Coughlin (94)
Anthony Latina (94)
Blaine Caton (97)
Linden Hora (96)
TJ Dumonceaux (94)
Luke Shiplo (95)
Luke Voltin (95)
Brandon Egli (94)
Mitch Meek (96)
Johhny Coughlin (95)
Kenny Citron (95)
Riley Guenther (94)
Mackenzie Bauer (96)
Danny Todosychuk (94)

Vernon’s Home record vs. Cowichan last season:

1-0-0-0

Vernon’s Road record vs. Cowichan last season:

1-1-0-0 (One game played in Chilliwack @ BCHL Showcase)

Vernon’s scoring leaders vs. Cowichan last season:

Riley Brandt (1-1-2)
Liam Coughlin (0-2-2)
TJ Dumonceaux (2-0-2)
Thomas Aldworth (1-1-2)
Jagger Williamson (1-0-1)
Johnny Coughlin (0-1-1)
Blaine Catin (0-1-1)
Anthony Latina (1-0-1)
Liam Finlay (0-1-1)

Danny Todosychuk (1-0 Record-1 Shutout)
Jarrod Schamerhorn (1-1 Record)

-Vernon has the leagues 9th best powerplay

-The Vipers have the leagues 5th best penalty kill

Lets take a look at the Cowichan Capitals:

The Cowichan Capitals are coming off a 2-1 loss to the West Kelowna Warriors Saturday also finish up at the BCHL Showcase. Today is the second game of a five game road trip. Cowichan sits 2nd in the Island Division are tied in points with Nanaimo are four points back of Division leading Powell River. These two teams will meet again November 7th in Cowichan before the Capitals travel to Vernon December 5th. The Caps have eleven players returning from last year's team went 1-2 vs Vernon last season. 

Adam Osczevski (4-1-5) leads the team lead in goals with four while Kade Kehoe (1-4-5) & Adam Osczevski (4-1-5) share the team lead in scoring with five each.

Ayden MacDonald started last year in Vernon, playing in five games before being traded to Victoria. 

Mitch Meek started last season in Victoria before getting traded to Vernon October 8th 2014. The Capitals acquired Meek from Prince George August 12th 2015.

Jeff Sargeant's Cowichan Capitals Blog,

https://sargeantspeak.wordpress.com/

Cowichan Capitals 2015-16 regular season Stats:

Games Played: 3
Wins: 3
Losses: 1
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 0
Home Record: 3-1-0-0
Road Record: 0-0-0-0
Goals For: 15
Goals Against: 8
Place: 2nd Place
Streak: One game losing streak

Cowichan Capitals Returning Players:

Kade Kehoe (96)
Adam Osczevski (95)
Ryan Burton (96)
Connor Russell (96)
Mitchell Stapley (97)
Daniel Wanner (95)
Ryan Hogg (98)
Ben Verrall (96)
Luke Santerno (96)
Darien Craighead (97)
Lane Michasiw (96)

Cowichan Capitals Departing & traded players from last years team:

Sean Harrison (96)
Skylar Pacheco (94)
Rylan Bechtel (95)
Kyle Horsman (94)
Julien Lepage (94)
Jesse Neher (94)
Brodie Smith (97)
Jacob Switzer (95)
Michal Holub (96)
Sam Curleigh (95)
Matthew Zentner (95)

Cowichan's Home record vs. Vernon last season:

1-1-0-0 (One game played in Chilliwack @ BCHL Showcase)

Cowichan's Road record vs. Vernon last season:

0-1-0-0

Cowichan's scoring leaders vs. Vernon this season:

Kyle Horsman (0-4-4)
Sean Harrison (2-1-3)
Jesse Neher (1-1-2)
Darien Craighead (1-1-2)
Ben Verrall (1-0-1)
Brodie Smith (1-0-1)
Luke Novak (0-1-1)
Skylar Pacheco (0-1-1)
Luke Santerno (0-1-1)
Daniel Wanner (0-1-1)
Rylan Bechtel (0-1-1)

Lane Michasiw (0-1 Record)
Matthew Zentner (1-1 Record)

-Cowichan has with the leagues 13th best powerplay

-The Capitals have the league's 13th best penalty kill

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon Vipers:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamid=224096

Cowichan Capitals:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamid=224089

Ewen Was A Kind-Hearted Soul:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Ewen was a kind-hearted soul
                   
by  Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star

Sep 27, 2015

Vernon’s Murray Fairweather will remember his nephew Todd Ewen as a kind soul who treated everybody with respect, played the piano and guitar, and wrote and illustrated children’s books.

On the ice, Ewen was given the nickname The Animal only because other enforcers like Stu (The Grim Reaper) Grimson had frightening monikers. And even though he had 148 fights in 518 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, Ewen was hardly known as an animal.

“If you listened to interviews with Todd, he was so soft-spoken,” said Fairweather, who helped mentor Ewen in hockey. “He was a quiet guy who giggled all the time and had a good sense of humour.”

Ewen, who began his Junior hockey career with the Vernon Lakers in 1982, died last Saturday. St. Louis County Police reported it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 49.

CTV Calgary reported that Ewen had struggled with depression in recent years. He leaves behind his wife, Kelli, and three children.

Fairweather sent me an uncut live 27-minute audio clip of Ewen talking to award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist Mike Downie. The piece is called Requiem for a Heavyweight.

Ewen’s sense of humour shines throughout the interview. He talked about his first couple of fights in the show.

“So after the game I call my brother (Dean) up and say, ‘Hey man, just had my second game in the NHL and it was awesome I fought this guy his name is Preburt or Proberb, something like that.” Anyway he doesn’t say anything for a second or two then he goes, ‘Ahh Bob Probert?’ And I said ya that’s the guy. Then he asks, “So how did you do?’ I told him I knocked him out in the first fight with one punch. He says, ‘You just knocked out Bob Probert? You have no idea what you just did, do ya?’ He was right, I had no clue.”

Fairweather, a great senior player back in the day in Saskatoon, recalls getting Ewen a tryout with the Junior A North Battleford Stars.

“He was 14 and fought the toughest guy on the team and beat him,” said Fairweather. “The coach, Stan Dunn, said, ‘I wanna keep him, but he’s only 14.’”

Fairweather served as Ewen’s agent for two years and then stepped aside for a certified player agent.

“Todd was stereotyped as a fighter because he was so strong, but he was a great skater. He could play the game. I know the Ducks signed him for his leadership and character.”

Mark Ferner was a defenceman with those same original Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1993.

“I was shocked,” said Ferner, head coach/GM of the BCHL Vernon Vipers. “Stu Grimson tweeted it best when he said Todd was a ‘great husband, father, teammate/linemate.’ He was a real intellectual guy and he was very creative. I remember him making a Zamboni out of hockey tape, with all the tiny details.”

Ewen had his best season in his first year with the Ducks, compiling nine goals and 285 penalty minutes. He was an alternate captain for three seasons in Anaheim.

“Between him and Stu, I don’t think they lost a fight,” said Ferner. “We were well protected.”

Ewen, who won a Stanley Cup with the 1993 Canadiens, earning the respect of peers, wrote a few popular children’s books. One of his titles was Hop — a Frog Who Dared to Be Different, which was dedicated to his own children.

After returning to St. Louis he coached hockey, produced instructional videos and sold real estate. He appeared regularly on sports talk radio shows and he recently participated in the team’s fantasy camp with other Blues alumni. The Blues held a moment’s silence in Ewen’s honour at a pre-season game the other night.

“I was proud to call Todd Ewen a teammate and more importantly, a friend,” Brett Hull tweeted. “Can’t believe you’re gone.”

Ewen, who grew up in St. Albert, and teammate Ron Berezowski billeted with Bob and Rosemarie Manton while in Vernon. The Lakers had local boy Gord Simpson as captain and were led in scoring by Stacey Wakabayashi and Mike Enemark. The Penticton Knights had Hull and Ian Kidd that season.

“Todd was so nice,” remembers Rosemarie, who had two young sons. “We would sit around the kitchen with the boys and Todd would draw his pictures. We had two billets from the Pee Wee tournament that year so we had a full house.”

Ewen rang up 14 goals and 178 penalty minutes in 42 games as a 16-year-old with Vernon.

Rosemarie said Ewen stopped by the house a year or two later, “with his cat” for a friendly visit.

I never met Ewen, but did befriend him on Facebook recently to stay closer to the hockey fraternity. I posted the sad news of his death and the tributes quickly started flowing.

From Laker teammate Bob Wensley: “That sucks. Played with him on the Lakers, good kid.”

From retired teacher Marty Stein, a scout for the Red Wings: “Great person. I taught him when I was at VSS. Very personable. Just can’t imagine the demons inside him. Sad day.”

From Kelowna journalist/city councillor Charlie Hodge, who penned two books on hockey legend Howie Meeker: “Tragedy. Another good guy lost in quiet pain.”

From Simpson of the Lakers: “My boy.. SALUTE. You had my back more than once.. truly missed & never forgotten... go get some Ewen.”

From Armstrong’s Don Raffan: “An exceptional good guy. Murray Fairweather’s nephew. He would give us tickets to watch him play when he was with the Canadiens.”

Ewen’s death came one day after Tim Petruk of Kamloops This Week wrote a superb piece on former NHL tough guy Rudy Poeschek, who played with Ewen in Vernon.

Petruk stated that Poeschek “is slowly losing his memory, his hearing — and maybe his life.”

Poeschek is involved in a lawsuit being brought against the NHL by former players. A Minnesota-based law firm is investigating allegations that the NHL hid concussion risks from its players over a decades-long period.

Whether or not Ewen’s death was linked to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy — known as CTE — a disease that has been found to have inflicted many athletes who played collision sport, remains to be seen and won’t bring any comfort to his loved ones. What we do know for sure is the world lost another good man far too soon.

BCHL Showcase: Wenatchee 3 Vernon 2

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

No Scoring

PERIOD 2

1-0 Vernon Vipers at 0:46 - Steven Jandric from Liam Finlay and Odeen Tufto
1-1 Wenatchee Wild at 13:42 - Troy Conzo from Joseph Drabin and Alex Bates
2-1 Wenatchee Wild at 14:29 - Hunter Alden from Brandon Puricelli
3-1 Wenatchee Wild at 18:43 (PP) - Tyler Rockwell from Bryon Yoon

PERIOD 3

3-2 Vernon Vipers at 18:42 - Jimmy Lambert from Bo Pellah and Mitchell Oliver

Wenatchee outshot Vernon 39-21 Chase Perry made 19 saves in the win, while Jarrod Schamerhorn made 36 saves in the loss.

BCHL Boxscore,

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=1477087&link=bchl

John Meissner's Wenatchee Wild Blog,

http://meissnershockeyblog.blogspot.ca/

Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Blog,

http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/

Rizzolo Opens Scoring vs Former Team:

Vernon Vipers defenceman Darren Rizzolo opens the scoring on the powerplay vs his former team giving the Vipers a 1-0 lead just 2:15 into last Saturday's game (September 19th) vs Chilliwack.  Rizzolo was acquired from Chilliwack on September 9th 2015 for Linden Hora & Tak Anholt.  Rizzolo & the Vipers went on to defeat Chilliwack 8-3.

http://syndicate.fasthockey.com/iframe/6614a7fa89e6db60c94f0c381c4adfac/640

Game Preview: BCHL Showcase: Vernon vs Wenatchee:

Vernon (2-2-0-1) vs Wenatchee (3-0-0-0) 3:30pm

Tonight is first of three meetings between the Vernon Vipers & the expansion Wenatchee Wild.

Last Game:

Saturday, September 19th Vernon defeated Chilliwack 8-3
Sunday, September 20th Wenatchee defeated Langley 5-3

Next Game:

Sunday, September 27th BCHL Showcase: Vernon vs Cowichan (In Chilliwack)
Sunday, September 27th BCHL Showcase: Wenatchee vs Trail (In Chilliwack) 

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 434-237-20-21

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 239-96-11-11 at home

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 196-132-9-10 on the road

Since the 2012-13 regular season Vernon is 3-1-1-2 at the BCHL Showcase

Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The Vernon Vipers play their first of two games at the BCHL Showcase here in Chilliwack, face the expansion and undefeated Wnatchee Wild for the first of three meetings this season. The Vipers are 3-1-1-2 all-time at the BCHL Showcase over the past three seasons. The Vipers come into today's game riding a one game winning streak after a 8-3 win over the visiting Chilliwack Cheifs last Saturday. Today is the first of a five game road trip for Vernon who face a team from the Mainland Division for a third straight game. The Vipers sit 4th in the Interior Division one point back of 3rd place Merritt. The Vipers & Wild will meet again November 14th in Wenatchee.

Liam Finlay (3-4-7) Steven Jandric (3-3-6) Riley Brandt (3-2-5) & Colton McCarthy (3-1-4) share the team lead in goals with three each while Odeen Tufto (2-7-9) leads the team in points with nine.

Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Venom Blog

http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/

Vernon Vipers 2015-16 regular season Stats:

Games Played: 5
Wins: 2
Losses: 2
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 1-1-0-1
Road Record: 1-1-0-0
Overtime Record: 0-1
Record vs Interior Division: 1-2-0-0
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 1-0-0-1
When the Vipers score first: 2-0-0-1
When the opponents score first: 0-2-0-0
Leading after 1st Period: 2-0-0-0
Tied after 1st Period: 0-1-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 0-1-0-1
Leading after 2nd Period: 2-0-0-0
Tied after 2nd Period: 0-1-0-0
Trailing after 2nd Period: 0-1-0-0
Out shooting Opponents: 1-1-0-1
Out shot by Opponents: 1-1-0-0
One goal games: 0-1-0-1
Goals For: 21
Goals Against: 17
Place: 3rd Place
Streak: One game winning streak

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Liam Finlay (97)
Jagger Williamson (98)
Colton McCarthy (96)
Riley Brandt (96)
Nicholas Rasovic (96)
Mitchell Oliver (97)
Jarrod Schamerhorn (95)

Vernon Vipers Departing & traded players from last years team:

Liam Coughlin (94)
Anthony Latina (94)
Blaine Caton (97)
Linden Hora (96)
TJ Dumonceaux (94)
Luke Shiplo (95)
Luke Voltin (95)
Brandon Egli (94)
Mitch Meek (96)
Johhny Coughlin (95)
Kenny Citron (95)
Riley Guenther (94)
Mackenzie Bauer (96)
Danny Todosychuk (94)

-Vernon has the leagues 10th best powerplay

-The Vipers have the leagues 4th best penalty kill

Lets take a look at the Wenatchee Wild:

The expansion Wenatchee Wild host the Vernon Vipers in their first of two games at the BCHL Showcase.  The Wild will face Trail in their second and final game in Chilliwack Sunday. The Wild come into this afternoon's matchup riding a three game winning streak after a 5-3 win over the Langley Rivermen Sunday afternoon. Today is the Wilds fourth game of a current eight game road trip. Wenatchee has yet to play a game at home going back to the pre-season.  To date the Wild have played all six games (pre-season and regular season) on the road have yet to lose, Wenatchee is 6-0 outscoring their opponents 32-5. Wenatchee sits atop the Mainland Division with a 3-0 record but are tied in points with 2nd place Langley.  The Wild's first game in Wenatchee wont be until October 10th when they host the Coquitlam Express in the teams home opener. Prior to joining the BCHL the Wild played in the NAHL since the 2008-09 season. Last year Wenatchee went 27-25-8 before losing in three straight in the first round of the NAHL Playoffs. The Wild have seven players returning from last year's team.

Tyler Rockwell (3-2-5) & Dakota Raabe (3-1-4) share the team lead in goals with three each while Kyle Stephan (2-5-7) leads the team in scoring with seven points.

John Meissner's Wenatchee Wild Blog:

http://meissnershockeyblog.blogspot.ca/

Wenatchee Wild 2015-16 regular season Stats:

Games Played: 3
Wins: 3
Losses: 0
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 0
Home Record: 0-0-0-0
Road Record: 3-0-0-0
Goals For: 18
Goals Against: 4
Place: 1st Place
Streak: Three game winning streak

Wenatchee Wild Returning Players:

Brendan Harris (96)
Kyle Stephan (95)
Tyler Rockwell (96)
Mike Coyne (95)
Dakota Raabe (97)
August Von Ungern (97)
Troy Conzo (97)

Wenatchee Wild Departing & traded players from last years team:

Jake Ahlgren (95)
Colin Burston (97)
David Powlowski (94)
Chris Jones (96)
Stevie Bryant (97)
Andre Pison (95)
Mitch DeMario (94)
Ryan Chiasson (94)
Don Bailey (96)
Ivan Bondarenko (97)
Ryan Gotelaere (94)
Donovan Ott (97)
Jacob Hamacher (97)
Shane Bennett (95)
Zach Quinn (94)
Mike Bullion (97)

-Wenatchee has with the leagues 2nd best powerplay

-The Wild have the league's 6th best penalty kill

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon Vipers:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamid=224096

Wenatchee Wild:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamid=441298