Game Preview: Vernon @ Merritt:

Vernon (17-13-3-1) @ Merritt (12-14-6-1) 7pm

Tonight is the third of six regular season meetings between the Vernon Vipers & Merritt Centennials. The season series is tied 1-1

Last Game:

Wednesday, December 14th Vernon defeated Salmon Arm 7-3
Tuesday, December 13th Langley defeated Merritt 2-1

Next Game:

Saturday, December 17th Vernon @ Trail
Saturday, December 17th Langley @ Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 63-22-3-8 vs Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon has outscored Merritt 365-246

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 31-8-1-4 at home vs Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 26-11-2-5 in Merritt

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

The Vipers are 3-6-1-0 vs Merritt in their last ten games at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena

The Vipers are 8-2-0-0 vs Merritt in their last ten games at Kal Tire Place

Vernon's last win at home vs Merritt was a 3-1 victory Saturday, October 29th 2016

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 4-1 victory on Wednesday, October 12th 2016

Here's a look at the season series vs Merritt

August 26th Merrit @ Vernon: Centennials won 3-0
August 27th Vernon @ Merritt: Centennials won 4-3
October 12th Vernon @ Merritt: Centennials won 4-1
October 29th Merritt @ Vernon: Vipers won 3-1
December 16th Vernon @ Merritt:
January 14th Merritt @ Vernon:
January 18th Merritt @ Vernon:
February 7th Vernon @ Merritt:

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The 17-13-3-1 Vernon Vipers make their second of three regular season meetings to the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Vernon is coming off a 7-3 victory over the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks Wednesday. The last time the Vipers were in Merritt, the Centennials won 4-1 October 12th. Tonight is the first game of a two game road trip before the Christmas break, where the Vipers have just two wins in their last five road games. Coming into tonight the Vipers have won back to back games and have atleast a point in four of their last five games and eight of their last ten. The Vipers & Centennials will meet again January 14th in Vernon. The Vipers sit 2nd in the Division are seven points up on West Kelowna & Merritt while three points up on 3rd place Trail but seventeen points back of Division leading Penticton.

Vernon Vipers Roster:

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

Steven Jandric (17-11-28) leads the team in goals with seventeen & in points with twenty eight.

Vernon Vipers 2016-17 Regular Season Stats:

Games Played: 34
Wins: 17
Losses: 13
Ties: 1
Overtime Wins: 1
Overtime Losses: 3
Home Record: 10-3-1-0
Road Record: 7-10-2-1
Overtime Record: 1-3-1
Record vs Interior Division: 9-6-1-1
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 8-7-2-0
When the Vipers score first: 14-5-1-1
When the opponents score first: 3-8-2-0
Leading after the 1st period: 11-2-1-0
Tied after the 1st period: 4-5-2-0
Trailing after the 1st period: 2-6-0-1
Leading after the 2nd period: 14-1-2-1
Tied after the 2nd period: 2-1-1-0
Trailing after the 2nd period: 1-10-0-0
Out shooting opponents: 14-5-2-1
Out shot by opponents: 3-6-1-0
One goal games: 5-1-3-1
Goals for: 110
Goals against: 103
Standings: 2nd Place
Win-loss streak: Two game winning streak
Longest winning streak: Three game winning streak (Twice)
Longest losing streak: Three game losing streak (Twice)

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)

Vernon Vipers departed & traded players from last years team:

Charley Michalowski (96)
Odeen Tufto (97)
Mitchell Oliver (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 this year:

1-0-0-0

Vernon's road record vs Merritt this year:

0-1-0-0

Vernon's scoring leaders vs Merritt this year:

Michael Ufberg (1-0-1)
Riley Brandt (0-1-1)
Jimmy Lambert (0-1-1)
Jagger Williamson (0-1-1)
Hunter Zandee (0-1-1)
Niko Karamanis (1-0-1)
Chris Jandric (0-1-1)

Ty Taylor (1-0 Record)

Vernon has the leagues 7th best powerplay

The Vipers have the leagues 5th best penalty kill

Let's take a look at the Merritt Centennials:

Merritt Centennials Roster:

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

Zach Risteau (15-9-24) leads the team lead in goals with fifteen, while Michael Regush (11-14-25) leads the team in points with twenty five.

The 12-14-6-1 Merritt Centennials are coming off a 2-1 loss in Langley Tuesday. Tonight is the fifth meeting of the season vs the Vipers (exhibition & regular season) where Merritt won the first three games before the Vipers won the last meeting between these two teams 3-1 October 29th in Vernon. The Centennials begin a two game home stand before the Christmas break, have won three of their last five home games. The Cents enter tonight riding a three game losing streak, have lost three of their last five and lost six of their last ten games. Merritt sits 5th in the Interior Division are a single point up on last place Salmon Arm, are tied in points with West Kelowna but four points back of 3rd place Trail and seven points back of 2nd place Vernon.

Merritt Centennials 2016-17 regular season stats:

Games Played: 33
Wins: 12
Losses: 14
Overtime Losses: 6
Ties: 1
Home Record: 6-7-2-0
Road Record: 6-7-4-1
Goals for: 95
Goals against: 108
Standings: 5th Place (Interior Division)
Streak: Three 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 this year:

1-0-0-0

Merritt's road record vs Vernon this year:

0-1-0-0

Merritt Centennials scoring leaders vs Vernon this year:

Henry Cleghorn (2-1-3)
Zachary Zorn (1-1-2)
Mike Faulkner (0-1-1)
Tyrell Buckley (0-1-1)
Chase Bell (1-0-1)
Rylan Van Unen (0-1-1)
Zach Court (0-1-1)
Zach Metsa (0-1-1)
Nick Fidanza (0-1-1)
Zach Risteau (0-1-1)
Cade Gleekel (1-0-1)
Zachary Bleuler (0-1-1)

Jacob Berger (1-1 Record)

Merritt has the leagues best powerplay:

The Centennials have the leagues 10th best penalty kill