Game Preview: Merritt @ Vernon:

Merritt (14-14-2-1) @ Vernon(23-7-1-4) 7pm

Tonight is the third of six regular season meetings between the Vernon Vipers & Merritt Centennials. The Vipers lead the season series 2-0

Last Game:

Saturday, December 9th Vernon defeated Penticton 4-0
Tuesday, December 12th Merritt defeated Trail 5-3

Next Game:

Saturday, December 16th Trail @ Vernon
Sunday, December 17th Nanaimo @ Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 65-24-9-4 vs Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon has outscored Merritt 378-261

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 31-9-1-5 at home vs Merritt

Since the 2002-03 regular season Vernon is 28-12-5-3 in Merritt

The Vipers are 4-4-1-1 in their last ten games vs Merritt

The Vipers are 5-4-0-1 vs Merritt in their last ten games in Merritt

The Vipers are 6-3-1-0 vs Merritt in their last ten games in Vernon

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 5-4 victory Wednesday, January 18th 2017

Vernon's last regular season win at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena was a 3-2 victory on Friday, November 17th 2017

Merritt's last regular season win at home vs Vernon was a 3-0 victory on Tuesday, February 7th 2017

Here's a look at the season series vs Merritt

September 15th Vernon @ Merritt: Vipers won 2-0
November 17th Vernon @ Merritt: Vipers won 3-2
December 15th Merritt @ Vernon
January 5th Merritt @ Vernon
January 12th Vernon @ Merritt
January 31st Merritt @ Vernon

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

The 23-7-1-4 Vernon Vipers are coming off a 4-0 victory Saturday over the visiting Penticton Vees. Tonight's the second game of a three game home stand, where the Snakes have won three of their last four home games. The last time these two teams met, the Vipers defeated the Cents 3-2 November 17th in Merritt. The Vipers enter tonight having won two straight and four of their last five. Vernon are 7-2-1-0 in their last ten games. Vernon sits atop the Interior Division and overall standings are six points up on Wenatchee and four points up on the Penticton Vees, who have four games in hand. Brett Stapley is still out of the lineup, playing with Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. The Snakes have two games remaining before the Christmas break.

Vernon Vipers Roster:

http://bchl.ca/stats/roster/21

Brett Stapley (17-21-38) leads the team lead in goals with seventeen, while Jimmy Lambert (14-29-43) leads the team in points with fourty three.

Vernon Vipers 2017-18 regular season stats:

Games Played: 35
Wins: 23
Losses: 7
Ties: 4
Overtime Wins: 2
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 11-3-1-1
Road Record: 12-4-0-3
Overtime Record: 2-0-4
Record vs Interior Division: 15-4-0-2
Record vs Island & Mainland Divisions: 8-3-1-2
Record In September: 6-1-0-1
Record In October: 6-3-0-1
Record In November: 7-3-0-2
Record In December: 4-0-1-0
When the Vipers score first: 17-3-0-2
When the opponents score first: 6-4-1-2
Leading after the 1st period: 15-2-0-1
Tied after the 1st period: 2-2-0-3
Trailing after the 1st period: 5-2-1-0
Leading after the 2nd period: 18-0-0-1
Tied after the 2nd period: 5-5-0-0
Trailing after the 2nd period: 0-2-1-3
Out shooting opponents: 17-4-1-2
Out shot by opponents: 6-3-0-2
One goal games: 5-6-1-0
Goals for: 125
Goals against: 74
Standings: 1st Place (Overall)
Longest winning streak: Unbeaten in eight games (6 wins-2 ties)
Longest losing streak: Winless in three games (2 losses & 1 tie)

Vernon Vipers Returning Players:

Brett Stapley (99)
Jagger Williamson (98)
Jimmy Lambert (97)
Niko Karamanis (98)
Jesse Lansdell (98)
Michael Ufberg (97)
Shane Kelly (97)
Sol Seibel (99)
Chris Jandric (98)
Ty Taylor (99)

Vernon Vipers departed & traded players from last years team:

Austin Adamson (96)
Riley Brandt (96)
Ryan Brushett (98)
Simon Sagissor (97)
Brody Dale (99)
Hunter Zandee (96)
Luke Gingras (98)
Steven Jandric (97)
Cooper Watson (96)
Cameron Trott (97)
Connor Clouston (96)
Darion Hanson (97)

Vernon's home record vs Merritt this year:

0-0-0-0

Vernon's road record vs Merritt this year:

2-0-0-0

Vernon's scoring leaders vs Merritt this year:

Jimmy Lambert (1-1-2)
Chris Jandric (0-2-2)
Niko Karamanis (2-0-2)
Keyvan Mokhtari (0-2-2)
Michael Young (0-1-1)
Jack Judson (0-1-1)
Brett Stapley (0-1-1)
Josh Prokop (1-0-1)
Jordan Sandhu (1-0-1)
Jagger Williamson (0-1-1)
Jesse Lansdell (0-1-1)

Ty Taylor (1-0 Record-1 Shutout)
Anthony Yamnitsky (1-0 Record)

Let's take a look at the Merritt Centennials:

The 14-14-2-1 Merritt Centennials make their first of three regular season visits to Kal Tire Place are coming off a 5-3 victory in Trail Tuesday. Merritt has won just ten games in Vernon since the 2002-03 regular season. This is the third meeting of the regular season vs the Vipers with Vernon leading the season series 2-0 after 2-0 and 3-2 wins in Merritt. These two teams will meet again January 5th in Vernon. Tonight's the second game of a two game road trip, where the Centennials have two straight and three of their last five road games. The Cents come into action tonight having won back to back games and four of their last five to get to 500. Merritt has won six of their last ten. Merritt sits 6th in the Division are four points up on last place Salmon Arm, are four points back of West Kelowna and eleven points back of Trail.

Merritt Centennials Roster:

http://bchl.ca/stats/roster/15

Henry Cleghorn (14-18-32) leads the team in goals with fourteen & in points with thirty two.

Merritt Centennials Blog,

http://q101.ca/sports

Merritt Centennials 2017-18 regular season stats:

Games Played: 31
Wins: 14
Losses: 14
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 2
Home Record: 8-8-1-0
Road Record: 6-6-1-1
Goals for: 106
Goals against: 99
Standings: 6th Place (Interior Division)

Merritt Centennials Returning Players:

Zach Zorn (97)
Nicholas Wicks (98)
Chase Bell (97)
Rylan Van Unen (99)
Henry Cleghorn (97)
Zach Court (97)
Michael Van Unen (99)
Tyrell Buckley (97)
Jacob Berger (97)

Merritt Centennials departed and traded players from last years team:

Zach Risteau (98)
Cade Gleekel 997)
Stephan Seeger (96)
Brett Jewell (96)
Tyler Ward (99)
Michael Regush (98)
Nick Fidanza (96)
Mike Faulkner (96)
Aaron Murray (96)
Ethan King (99)
Zach Mesta (98)
Zachary Bleuler (97)
Colten Langcaster (98)

Merritt's home record vs Vernon this year:

0-2-0-0

Merritt's road record vs Vernon this year:

0-0-0-0

Merritt Centennials scoring leaders vs Vernon this year:

Zach Zorn (0-1-1)
Nicholas Wicks (0-1-1)
Chase Bell (0-1-1)
Henry Cleghorn (1-0-1)
Bredan Schneider (1-0-1)
Bradley Cocca (0-1-1)

Jacob Berger (0-1 Record)
Austin Roden (0-1 Record)