Game Preview: Vernon @ Merritt:

Vernon (22-24-0-3) @ Merritt (18-27-1-4) 7pm

Tonight is the seventh and final regular season meeting between the Vernon Vipers & Merritt Centennials. The Vipers lead the season series 4-2

Last Game:

Wednesday, February 3rd Vernon defeated Prince George 6-3
Saturday, February 6th Salmon Arm defeated Merritt 7-3

Next Game:

Friday, February 12th Langley @ Vernon
Friday, February 12th Merritt @ Cowichan

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 437-241-20-21

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

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 198-135-9-10 on the road

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 62-20-3-8 vs. Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon has outscored Merritt 360-238

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 30-8-1-4 at home vs. Merritt

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 26-9-2-5 in Merritt

The Vipers are 7-3-0-0 in their last ten games at home vs. the Centennials

The Vipers are 5-4-1-0 in their last ten games on the road vs. the Centennials

The Vipers are 7-3-0-0 in their last ten games vs. Merritt

The Vipers last win at home vs Merritt was a 5-3 victory on Wednesday, November 18th 2015

The Centennials last win in Vernon was a 3-2 victory on Friday, December 18th 2015

The Vipers last win in Merritt was a 6-3 victory on Saturday, January 9th 2016

The Centennials last win at home over Vernon was a 6-3 victory on Friday, December 19th 2014

The Vipers went 5-2-0-0 vs the Merritt Centennials last season

Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The Vernon Vipers make their third and final regular season visit to the Nicola Memorial Arena are coming off a 6-3 win in Prince George Wednesday. The Vipers are 2-0 in Merritt this season and have won three straight at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena going back to last year. Since the 2003-04 regular season the Vipers are 26-9-2-5 in Merritt. Vernon has won four of their last five and are 6-4-0-0 in their last ten games. The last time these two teams met, the Vipers won 6-3 in Merritt on January 9th. Vernon is 4-2 vs the Centennials this season finish a three game road trip tonight. Vernon has won three of their last four road games have just nine games remaining in the regular season. The Vipers sit 4th in the Interior Division are six points up on last place Merritt, five points up on Trail and thirteen points back of Salmon Arm.

Odeen Tufto (21-37-58) leads the the team in goals with twenty one and  in points with fifty eight.

Graham Turnbull's Vernon Vipers Venom Blog

http://vipersvenom1.blogspot.ca/

Vernon Vipers 2015-16 regular season Stats:

Games Played: 49
Wins: 22
Losses: 24
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 3
Home Record: 12-11-0-2
Road Record: 10-12-0-2
Overtime Record: 3-4
Record vs Interior Division: 11-17-0-3
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 11-6-0-1
When the Vipers score first: 10-5-0-2
When the opponents score first: 12-19-0-1
Leading after 1st Period: 10-2-0-2
Tied after 1st Period: 5-7-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 8-15-0-1
Leading after 2nd Period: 13-0-0-1
Tied after 2nd Period: 5-5-0-1
Trailing after 2nd Period: 4-19-0-0
Out shooting Opponents: 11-8-0-2
Out shot by Opponents: 10-16-0-1
One goal games: 6-6-0-3
Record in September: 3-3-0-1
Record in October: 6-6-0-0
Record in November: 4-6-0-1
Record in December: 3-5-0-1
Record in January: 5-4-0-0
Record in February: 1-0-0-0
Goals For: 158
Goals Against: 169
Place: 4th Place
Streak: One game winning streak
Longest winning streak this year: Four games
Longest losing streak this year: Five games

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Liam Finlay (97)
Jagger Williamson (98)
Colton McCarthy (96)
Riley Brandt (96)
Mitchell Oliver (97)

Vernon Vipers Departing & traded players from last years team:

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

Vernon’s Home record vs. Merritt this season:

2-2-0-0

Vernon’s Road record vs. Merritt this season:

2-0-0-0

Vernon’s scoring leaders vs. Merritt this season:
Odeen Tufto (2-6-8)
Liam Finlay (3-4-7)
Jimmy Lambert (2-4-6)
Joe Sacco (2-2-4)
Riley Brandt (1-3-4)
Hunter Zandee (2-2-4)
Christian Cakebread (2-2-4)
Jagger Williamson (1-2-3)
Mac Ferner (0-3-3)
Mitchell Oliver (1-2-3)
Brett Stapley (1-1-2)
Bo Pellah (1-1-2)
Steven Jandric (0-2-2)
Latrell Charleson (2-0-2)

Colton McCarthy (1-1-2)
Charley Michalowski (0-1-1)
Ben Butcher (0-1-1)
Griffin James (1-0-1)
Darren Rizzolo (0-1-1)
Andrew Shortridge (3-2 Record-1 Shutout)
Brendan Barry (1-0 Record)

-Vernon has the leagues 4th best powerplay

-The Vipers have the leagues 12th best penalty kill

Lets take a look at the Merritt Centennials:

The Merritt Centennials finish a two game home stand tonight before hitting the road for a four game road trip. The Centennials are coming off a 7-3 loss to the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks Saturday, have just eight games remaining in the regular season. The Cents come into tonight's game 2-4 vs the Vipers have won three of their last five games and are 5-4-1-0 in their last ten. Merritt has lost two straight at home and just one win in their last six home games. The Centennials sit last in the Division are one point back of Trail and six points back of Vernon for the fourth and final playoff spot.

Colin Grannary (27-42-69) leads the team in goals with twenty seven & in points with sixty nine.

Mark O'shaughnessy played as an "AP" with the Vipers last season

Merritt Centennials 2015-16 regular season Stats:

Games Played: 50
Wins: 18
Losses: 27
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 4
Home Record: 8-13-0-4
Road Record: 10-14-1-0
Goals For: 177
Goals Against: 215
Place: 6th Place
Streak: One game losing streak

Merritt Centennials Returning Players:

Zak Bowles (95)
Colin Grannary (97)
Gavin Gould (96)
Nick Fidanza (96)
Tyrell Buckley (97)
Malik Kaila (96)

Merritt Centennials Departing & traded players from last years team:

John Schiavo (94)
Diego Cuglietta (95)
Michael Ederer (96)
Shane Poulsen (94)
Josh Teves (95)
Rhett Willcox (96)
Jake Clifford (94)
Brandon Duhaime (97)
Sam Johnson (94)
Griffyn Martin (94)
Cole Chorney (96)
James Neil (95)
Stephan Seeger (96)
Cole Arcuri (96)
Matt Foley (95)
Devin Oakes (95)
Jonah Imoo (94)
Anthony Pupplo (95)

Merritt’s Home record vs. Vernon this season:

0-2-0-0

Merritt’s Road record vs. Vernon this season:

2-2-0-0

Merritt’s scoring leaders vs. Vernon this season:

Brett Jewell (2-6-8)
Gavin Gould (1-5-6)
Michael Regush (1-4-5)
Nick Jermain (3-2-5)
Colin Grannary (2-3-5)
Michael Faulkner (1-4-5)
Ryan Forbes (3-0-3)
Ryan Coghlan (0-2-2)
Malik Kaila (0-2-2)
Tyler Ward (0-2-2)
Nick Florentino (1-0-1)
Zak Bowles (1-0-1)
Zachary Zorn (1-0-1)
Henry Cleghorn (0-1-1)
Nick Fidanza (0-1-1)
Cole Kehler (2-4 Record)

-Merritt has with the leagues 9th best powerplay

-The Centennials have the league's 17th best penalty kill

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon Vipers:

http://bchl.ca/roster?team=21

Merritt Centennials:

http://bchl.ca/roster?team=15