Game Preview: Vernon @ Merritt:

Vernon (6-3-2-0) @ Merritt (5-4-1-1) 7pm

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

Last Game:

Saturday, October 8th Vernon defeated West Kelowna 3-2
Saturday, October 8th Penticton defeated Merritt 4-3 overtime

Next Game:

Saturday, October 15th Vernon @ Chilliwack
Saturday, October 15th Powell River @ 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 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 30-8-1-4 at home vs Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 26-10-2-5 in Merritt

The Vipers are 6-4-0-0 in their last ten games vs Merritt

The Vipers are 4-5-1-0 vs Merritt in their last ten games at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena

The Vipers are 7-3-0-0 vs Merritt in their last ten games at Kal Tire Place

Vernon's last win at home vs Merritt was a 5-3 victory on Wednesday, November 18th 2015

Merritt's last win at Kal Tire Place was a 3-2 victory on Friday, December 18th 2015

Vernon's last regular season win at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena was a 6-3 victory on Saturday, January 9th 2016

Merritt's last regular season win at home vs Vernon was a 3-1 victory on Tuesday, February 9th 2016

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The 6-3-2-0 Vernon Vipers make their first of three regular season visits to the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. These two teams will meet eight time this season (exhibition & regular season) The Centennials won both pre-season games over the Vipers in August winning 3-0 in Vernon and 4-3 in Merritt. Vernon is coming off a 3-2 victory in West Kelowna Saturday are playing their second game of a three game road trip. The Vipers come into tonight's contest having lost three of their last five but have atleast a point in four straight games. Vernon sits 2nd in the Interior Division are two points up on Merritt and four points back of Division leading Penticton. The Vipers have lost four of their first seven games away from home, have played seven of their last eight games on the road.

Vernon Vipers Roster:

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

Steven Jandric (5-5-10) leads the team lead in goals with five, while Jimmy Lambert (2-9-11) leads the team lead in points with eleven.

Vernon Vipers 2016-17 Regular Season Stats:

Games Played: 11
Wins: 6
Losses: 3
Ties: 0
Overtime Wins: 0
Overtime Losses: 2
Home Record: 3-0-1-0
Road Record: 3-3-1-0
Overtime Record: 0-2
Record vs Interior Division: 3-1-0-0
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 3-2-2-0
When the Vipers score first: 5-0-0-0
When the opponents score first: 1-3-2-0
Leading after the 1st period: 5-0-0-0
Tied after the 1st period: 0-1-2-0
Trailing after the 1st period: 1-2-0-0
Leading after the 2nd period: 4-0-1-0
Tied after the 2nd period: 1-0-1-0
Trailing after the 2nd period: 1-3-0-0
Out shooting opponents: 4-0-2-0
Out shot by opponents: 2-2-0-0
One goal games: 1-0-2-0
Goals for: 40
Goals against: 35
Standings: 2nd Place (Interior Division)
Win-loss streak: One game winning streak
Longest winning streak: Three game winning streak
Longest losing streak: Three game losing streak

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Brett Stapley (99)
Christian Cakebread (97)
Nicholas Rasovic (96)
Hunter Zandee (96)
Jagger Williamson (98)
Jimmy Lambert (97)
Riley Brandt (96)
Mitchell Oliver (97)

Vernon Vipers departed & traded players from last years team:

Charley Michalowski (96)
Odeen Tufto (97)
Colton McCarthy (96)
Callum Volpe (98)
Liam Finlay (97)
Darren Rizzolo (98)
Joe Sacco (96)
Ben Butcher (95)
Brendan Barry (97)
Latrell Charleson (95)
Bo Pellah (95)
Mac Ferner (95)
Andrew Shortridge (95)

Vernon's home record vs Merritt last year:

2-2-0-0

Vernon's road record vs Merritt last year:

2-1-0-0

Vernon's scoring leaders vs Merritt last year:

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)
Darren Rizzolo (0-1-1)

Andrew Shortridge (3-2 Record-1 Shutout)
Brendan Barry (1-1 Record)

Vernon has the leagues 2nd best powerplay

The Vipers have the leagues 3rd best penalty kill

Let's take a look at the Merritt Centennials:

The 5-4-1-1 Merritt Centennials are coming off a 4-3 loss in overtime to the visiting Penticton Vees Saturday lost both games in a home & home series with Penticton over the weekend. Tonight is the second game of a four game home stand where the Centennials have won just once at home this season. The Cents have lost three of their last five sit 3rd in the Interior Division are two points up on West Kelowna, one point up on Trail and two points back of Vernon. Merritt has ten players returning from last years team went 3-4 vs the Vipers last year were 1-2 at home vs Vernon last season. These two teams will meet again October 29th in Vernon.

Merritt Centennials Roster:

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

Tyler Ward (6-3-9) leads the team in goals with six, while Michael Regush (4-7-11) leads the team in points with eleven.

Merritt Centennials 2016-17 regular season stats:

Games Played: 11
Wins: 5
Losses: 4
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 1-2-1-0
Road Record: 4-2-0-1
Goals for: 35
Goals against: 36
Standings: 3rd Place (Interior Division)
Streak: Two game losing streak

Merritt Centennials Returning Players:

Henry Cleghorn (97)
Michael Regush (98)
Brett Jewell (96)
Tyler Ward (99)
Nick Fidanza (96)
Tyrell Buckley (97)
Zachary Zorn (97)
Chase Bell (97)
Zach Court (97)
Tyler Holz (96)

Merritt Centennials departed and traded players from last years team:

Ryan Roseboom (96)
Colin Grannary (97)
Mitch Lipon (96)
Michael Faulkner (96)
Zac Bowles (95)
Nick Jermain (96)
Nick Florentino (96)
Malik Kaila (96)
Mark O'Shaughnessy (97)
Tyler Wickman (98)
Cole Kehler (97)
Anthony Pupplo (95)

Merritt's home record vs Vernon last year:

1-2-0-0

Merritt's road record vs Vernon last year:

2-2-0-0

Merritt Centennials scoring leaders vs Vernon last year:

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 Coughlan (0-2-2)
Malik Kaila (0-2-2)
Tyler Ward (0-2-2)
Nick Florentino (1-1-2)
Zac 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 has the leagues 3rd best powerplay:

The Centennials have the leagues 8th best penalty kill