Vipers Visit Silverbacks:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Vipers visit Silverbacks
                    
Sep 2, 2016

Morning Star Staff

They are 0-for-4 in the preseason, but Mark Ferner is getting a good glimpse at some possible future Vernon Vipers and not overly concerned with the losses.

The Vipers gave up an empty-netter and fell 4-2 to the defending B.C. Hockey League champion Penticton Vees Tuesday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

“Our kids hung tough,” said Ferner, who again pencilled in a rookie-laden roster. “We’re real close to making our final decisions. We invited these young kids to see what they can do so that’s why we’re keeping them. Some of them may be here next year.”

Ferner plans to dress more veterans as the Vipers finish the exhibition season with a home-and-home series against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, starting tonight at the Shaw Centre. Game time Saturday at Kal Tire Place is 6 p.m.

Philadelphia d-man Mike Ufberg and 15-year-old forward Ethan Scardina of White Rock supplied the Viper goals.

Vernon was assessed nine penalties and Penticton four, while Gavin Hubbard and Cole Demers shared the goaltending. Hubbard gave up two goals.

Owen Sillinger, Grant Cruikshank and Griffin Mendel all scored in the first period for the Vees, while Taylor Ward added the empty-netter.

Forward Kaden Black, a Vernon product, has impressed the Viper coaching staff with his work ethic in the preseason. The KIJHL veteran was not, as reported in Wednesday’s Morning Star, released by the team. New in camp is Tre Dupilka-Sales, who racked up 14 goals and 36 points with the Junior B Kamloops Storm last year. He is an 18-year-old from Kamloops, who pocketed 42 points as a Midget with the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton.

The Vees tied the West Kelowna Warriors 2-2 Wednesday night and had a few young faces in the lineup, including 16-year-olds Luke Bast (younger brother of Gabe) and Brendan Kim patrolling the blueline once again. Up front the Vees dressed two 15-year-olds in Massimo Rizzo and Connor Bouchard.

Rizzo rang up 60 goals and a whopping 137 points in Bantam last year with the Burnaby Winter Club.