Game Preview: Exhibition: Merritt @ Vernon:

Merritt (0-0-1-0) @ Vernon (0-1-0-0) 7pm

Tonight is first of eight meetings between the Vernon Vipers & Merritt Centennials. The Vipers won the season series last year 4-3

Last Game:

Thursday, August 25th Penticton defeated Vernon 4-1
Wednesday, August 24th Merritt tied Salmon Arm 5-5

Next Game:

Saturday, August 27th Vernon @ Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 62-21-3-8 vs. Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon has outscored Merritt 361-241

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

Since the 2003-04 regular season Vernon is 26-10-2-5 in Merritt

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

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

The Vipers are 6-4-0-0 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 3-1 victory on Tuesday, February 9th 2016

The Vipers went 4-3-0-0 vs the Merritt Centennials last season

Lets take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The Vernon Vipers are coming off a 4-1 loss to the visiting Penticton Vees Thursday play their second game of the pre-season tonight. Tonight is the first game of a home and home series with the Merritt Centennials and the first of eight meetings (pre-season & regular season) vs the Cents this season. The Vipers are 7-3 at home against Merritt in their last ten home games are 30-8-1-4 at home vs. Merritt since the 2003-04 regular season. Vernon went 4-3-0-0 vs the Centennials last season went 2-2 vs Merritt at Kal Tire Place last year.

Odeen Tufto (25-40-65) lead the team in goals last season with twenty five and in points with sixty five

Vernon Vipers 2015-16 regular season Stats:

Games Played: 58
Wins: 24
Losses: 31
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 3
Home Record: 13-14-0-2
Road Record: 11-16-0-2
Overtime Record: 4-4
Record vs Interior Division: 12-21-0-3
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 12-9-0-1
When the Vipers score first: 10-7-0-2
When the opponents score first: 14-24-0-1
Leading after 1st Period: 11-4-0-2
Tied after 1st Period: 5-9-0-0
Trailing after 1st Period: 9-18-0-1
Leading after 2nd Period: 14-2-0-1
Tied after 2nd Period: 6-6-0-1
Trailing after 2nd Period: 4-23-0-0
Out shooting Opponents: 12-8-0-2
Out shot by Opponents: 11-23-0-1
One goal games: 7-7-0-3
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: 3-7-0-0
Goals For: 179
Goals Against: 206
Place: 4th Place (Tied with Merritt)
Streak: One game winning streak
Longest winning streak last year: Four games
Longest losing streak last year: Six games

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Brett Stapley (99)

Christian Cakebread (97)

Nicholas Rasovic (96)

Hunter Zandee (96)

Jagger Williamson (98)

Jimmy Lambert (97)

Steven Jandric (97)

Callum Volpe (98)

Darren Rizzolo (98)

Riley Brandt (96)
Mitchell Oliver (97)

Vernon Vipers Departing & traded players from last years team:

Charley Michalowski (96)

Odeen Tufto (97)
Colton McCarthy (96)
Liam Finlay (97)
Joe Sacco (96)
Brendan Barry (97)
Ben Butcher (95)
Latrell Charleson (95)
Bo Pellah (95)
Mac Ferner (95)
Andrew Shortridge (95)

Vernon’s Home record vs. Merritt last season:

2-2-0-0

Vernon’s Road record vs. Merritt last season:

2-1-0-0

Vernon’s scoring leaders vs. Merritt last season:

Odeen Tufto (2-6-8)
Liam Finlay (3-4-7)
Jimmy Lambert (2-4-6)
Riley Brandt (2-3-5)
Hunter Zandee (2-3-5)
Joe Sacco (2-2-4)
Christian Cakebread (2-2-4)
Jagger Williamson (1-2-3)
Mac Ferner (0-3-3)
Mitchell Oliver (1-2-3)
Colton McCarthy (1-2-3)
Brett Stapley (1-1-2)
Bo Pellah (1-1-2)
Steven Jandric (0-2-2)
Latrell Charleson (2-0-2)
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 (1-1 Record)

-Vernon has the leagues 5th best powerplay last season

-The Vipers had the leagues 13th best penalty kill last season

Lets take a look at the Merritt Centennials:

The Merritt Centennials make their first of four visits to Kal Tire Place this season, are coming off a 5-5 tie to the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks Wednesday are playing their second of five exhibition games this year. The Cents open the 2016-17 regular season September 9th in Prince George. The Centennials last win in Vernon was a 3-2 victory on Friday, December 18th 2015. These two teams will meet again Saturday in Merritt before the Centennials travel to West Kelowna September 2nd.  

Nick Jermain (29-25-54) lead the team in goals last season with twenty nine, while Colin Grannary (28-48-76) lead the team in points last year with sevent six

Merritt Centennials 2015-16 regular season Stats:

Games Played: 58
Wins: 23
Losses: 30
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 4
Home Record: 12-13-0-4
Road Record: 11-17-1-0
Goals For: 204
Goals Against: 242
Place: 5th Place
Streak: Three game winning streak

Merritt Centennials Returning Players:

Henry Cleghorn (97)

Michael Regush (98)

Brett Jewell (96)

Tyler Ward (99)

Nick Fidanza (96)

Michael Faulkner (96)

Tyrell Buckley (97)

Merritt Centennials Departing & traded players from last years team:

Ryan Roseboom (96)
Zachary Zorn (97)
Chase Bell (97)
Colin Grannary (97)
Mitch Lipon (96)
Zac Bowles (95)
Zach Court (97)
Nick Jermain (96)
Nick Fiorentino (96)
Malik Kaila (96)
Tyler Holz (96)
Mark O'Shaughnessy (97)
Tyler Wickman (98)
Cole Kehler (97)
Anthony Pupplo (95)

Merritt’s Home record vs. Vernon last season:

1-2-0-0

Merritt’s Road record vs. Vernon last season:

2-2-0-0

Merritt’s scoring leaders vs. Vernon last season:

Brett Jewell (3-6-9)
Gavin Gould (1-5-6)
Michael Regush (2-4-6)
Nick Jermain (3-3-6)
Colin Grannary (2-4-6)
Michael Faulkner (2-4-6)
Ryan Forbes (3-0-3)
Ryan Coghlan (0-2-2)
Malik Kaila (0-2-2)
Tyler Ward (0-2-2)
Nick Florentino (1-1-2)
Zak Bowles (1-1-2)
Nick Fidanza (0-2-2)
Zachary Zorn (1-0-1)
Henry Cleghorn (0-1-1)
Chase Bell (0-1-1)

Cole Kehler (3-4 Record)

-Merritt had the leagues 6th best powerplay last season

-The Centennials had the league's 17th best penalty kill last season

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon Vipers:

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

Merritt Centennials:

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